California Virus in New York State

Abstract

A virus belonging to the CEV complex but antigenically different from the prototype BFS-283 strain was isolated from a pool of 23 Aedes cinereus mosquitoes collected in St. Lawrence County, New York, on 8 July 1965. Antibodies neutralizing California encephalitis virus were detected in serum from man, dairy cows, and wild animals from 11 counties; 14% of the serum from residents of two rural counties and 5% of that from suburban residents had CEV antibody. In animals, antibody was frequently found in wood-chucks (65%), deer (33%), and dairy cows (15%).