Secondary encephalitis can develops as a complication of a viral infection or reactivation of a latent virus, such as when the immune system is suppressed. Common diseases that can trigger secondary encephalitis include influenza, chickenpox, measles, mumps, and German measles (Encephalitis, 2008, Neurology Channel). Question 6: Do you considered the disease/condition chronic or communicable?

The most common form of transmission in the U.S. is through herpes which is usually transmitted through human sexual contact. Mosquitoes and other insects can transmit the virus through bites and secondary conditions such as chickenpox that give rise to the virus are contagious.

Question 7: Why?

Herpes is an extremely common and contagious STD. Additionally, other forms of the virus are highly contagious through animal to human transmission, as in the case of the mosquito-borne West Nile...

Often people do not think to take precautions about curtailing the spread of disease through apparently common mosquito populations until it is too late. Given the decline in appropriate vaccination procedures for children, the dangers of secondary encephalitis may increase, since common childhood ailments are often the cause of encephalitis as a sequelae.
Works Cited

Encephalitis. (2009). The Encephalitis Society. Retrieved March 7, 2009 at http://www.encephalitis.info/TheIllness/IllnessWarning.html

Encephalitis. (2009). Neurology Channel. Retrieved March 7, 2009 at http://www.neurologychannel.com/encephalitis/index.shtml

Ringold, Sarah, Cassio Lynm, & Richard M. Glass. Viral encephalitis. JAMA. 2005; 294(4):514.

A doi:10.1001/jama.294.4.514). Retrieved March 7, 2009 at http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/294/4/514.pdf

Encephalitis