Powassan and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Seroprevalence in Endemic Areas, United States, 2019–2020
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Powassan virus (POWV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) are regionally endemic arboviruses in the United States that can cause neuroinvasive disease and death. Recent identification of EEEV transmission through organ transplantation and POWV transmission through blood transfusion have increased concerns about infection risk. After historically high numbers of cases of both viruses were reported in 2019, we conducted a seroprevalence survey using blood donation samples from selected endemic counties. Specimens were screened for virus-specific neutralizing antibodies, and population seroprevalence was estimated using weights calibrated to county population census data. For POWV, median county seroprevalence in 4 states was 0.84%, ranging from 0% (95% CI 0%-2.28%) to 11.5% (95% CI 0.82%-40.9%). EEEV infection was identified in a single county (estimated seroprevalence 1.62% [95% CI 0.04%-8.75%]). Although seroprevalence estimates in sampled areas were generally low, additional investigation of higher-prevalence areas could inform risk for transmission from asymptomatic blood and organ donors.
Source: Emerging infectious diseases
Authors: Hannah Padda, Claire Y.-H. Huang, Kacie Grimm, Brad J. Biggerstaff, Jeremy P. Ledermann, Janae Raetz, Karen Boroughs, Eric C. Mossel, Stacey W. Martin, Jennifer A. Lehman, Rebecca L. Townsend, David Krysztof, Paula Saá, Emily T.N. Dinh, Mary Grace Stobierski, Brenda Esponda-Morrison, Karen Ann A. Wolujewicz, Matthew Osborne, Catherine M. Brown, Brandi Hopkins, Elizabeth K. Schiffman, Alex Garvin, Xia Lee, Rebecca A. Osborn, Ryan J. Wozniak, Aaron C. Brault, Sridhar V. Basavaraju, Susan L. Stramer, J. Erin Staples, Carolyn V. Gould
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409765410