Transmission

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Jamestown Canyon virus transmission cycle. A mosquito and a deer are shown on opposite sides of a circle with arrows connecting them to represent how Jamestown Canyon virus cycles between mosquitoes and mammals. Another arrow points from the mosquito to a figure of a person outside of the circle. People can become infected when an infected mosquito bites them. People are considered dead-end hosts because, unlike deer and other mammals, they can’t pass the virus on to other biting mosquitoes

Jamestown Canyon virus is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Jamestown Canyon virus can be spread by many types of mosquitoes, depending on location and time of year. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on deer and other animals that have the virus in their blood (also referred to as amplifying hosts or natural reservoirs). Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to people and other animals by biting them. People do not develop high enough levels of the virus in their blood to infect mosquitoes and further spread the disease. As a result, people are considered “dead-end” hosts for Jamestown Canyon virus.

Jamestown Canyon virus is not spread by coughing, sneezing, touching, or other contact with someone who is infected.

Prevent getting sick with Jamestown Canyon virus by preventing mosquito bites.