The New York State Emerging Infections Program

Surveillance for Encephalitis Syndrome

The Encephalitis Program has grown tremendously in recent years as there has been an expanded demand for diagnostic testing for encephalitis and meningitis in New York State. The Encephalitis Program in collaboration with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and two other sites, has developed standardized forms, case definitions, databases, testing protocols, proficiency tests, and received Institutional Review Board approvals for conducting a study to determine etiologic agents for cases of unexplained encephalitis. The Department of Health conducts laboratory-based surveillance combining epidemiology and laboratory data.

The main functions of the Viral Encephalitis Laboratory are to:

• Perform diagnostic testing for viruses that cause encephalitis
  • NYS surveillance
  • Outbreak investigations
  • EIP activities for unexplained deaths due to infectious diseases
• Develop diagnostic tests and improve methodology
  • Evaluate nucleic acid extraction methods
  • Evaluate reverse transcription methods
  • Develop and validate real-time PCR assays
  • Develop group-specific PCR assays
  • Develop molecular proficiency testing panels
  • Investigate new methodology for viral diagnostics

Further information about the NYSDOH Viral Encephalitis Laboratory (VEL) and its participation in the NYSEIP can be found: Viral Encephalitis Testing Program at the Wadsworth Center

Other Encephalitis Syndrome Info...

• Publications