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Eastern equine encephalitis produces focal radiographic signs. The characteristic early involvement of the basal ganglia and thalami distinguish this illness from herpes simplex encephalitis. MRI is a sensitive technique to identify the characteristic early radiographic manifestations of this viral encephalitis.

Background We sought to examine hearing loss in a group from the Royal Australian Air Force who undertook fuel tank maintenance on F‐111 aircraft, with exposure to formulations containing ototoxins, relative to two different comparison groups. Methods Using pure‐tone audiometry, hearing thresholds were assessed in 614 exposed personnel, 513 technical‐trade comparisons (different base, same job), and 403 non‐technical comparisons (same base, different job). We calculated percentage loss of hearing (PLH) and used regression models to examine whether there was an association between PLH and F‐111 fuel tank maintenance, adjusting for possible confounders. In addition, the difference between the observed hearing thresholds and the expected thresholds based on an otologically normal population (ISO‐7029‐2003) was determined. Results The PLH ranged from nil to 96 (median 1.5, quartiles 0.3, 5.5). A logistic regression model showed no statistically significant difference in PLH among the three exposure groups (exposed vs. non‐technical controls 1.1: 95% CI 0.7, 2.0 and exposed vs. technical OR 0.9: 95% CI 0.6, 1.3). The model also highlighted a number of other risk factors for PLH including age, tinnitus, smoking, depression, and use of depression medications. However, at all eight frequencies measured, all populations had lower than expected hearing thresholds based on published ISO‐7029 medians. Conclusions Although there was no difference in PLH between the three exposure groups, the study did reveal a high degree of hearing loss between the 3 groups and a normal population. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:1159–1169, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

We describe 8 cases of POWV encephalitis in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2013-2015. Prior to this, there had been only 2 cases of POWV encephalitis identified in Massachusetts. These cases may represent emergence of this virus in a region where its vector, I. scapularis, is known to be prevalent or may represent the emerging diagnosis of an underappreciated pathogen. We recommend testing for POWV in patients who present with encephalitis in the spring to fall in New England.