Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain and the causal virus is primarily transmitted by the mosquito, Culex tarsalis. The mosquito transmits the virus to birds, horses, mules and occasionally people. Birds serve as the most important host reservoir for the virus in the disease cycle. During the mosquito season public health officials routinely trap and test mosquitoes for viruses, and undertake sentinel chicken flock testing. Health officials may also survey local and migrating bird populations to determine the incidence of the virus and the potential for transmission.

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