Most diagnosed cases of encephalitis in the United States are caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, arboviruses (such as West Nile Virus), which are transmitted from infected animals to humans through the bite of an infected tick, mosquito, or other blood-sucking insect, or enteroviruses.

Can you catch encephalitis from another person?

Encephalitis caused by a virus is known as "viral encephalitis". In rare cases, encephalitis is caused by bacteria, fungi or parasites. You can catch these infections from someone else, but encephalitis itself is not spread from person to person.

How is encephalitis virus transmitted?

coughs or sneezes from an infected person that release airborne viruses, which are then inhaled by others. infected insects (such as mosquitoes or ticks) and animals, which can transfer some viruses directly into the bloodstream via their bite.