In: Biology
In 2001, a 3-year old boy was admitted to hospital in Mt Isa, Queensland with a two-day history of an acute febrile illness and convulsions. He remained febrile over the following two days. He had further brief seizures and then developed a left hemiparesis (paralysis of one side of the body), agitation and confusion, and subsequently became comatose. He was commenced on broad spectrum antibiotics and acyclovir. Two months later he had persisting major neurological sequelae, and remained semi-comatose with a spastic quadriplegia. In a provisional diagnosis of acute encephalitis, what viral etiologic agent is likely?
Select one:
a. Japanese encephalitis virus.
b. West Nile encephalitis virus.
c. St Louis encephalitis virus.
d. Murray Valley encephalitis virus.