Ecology and public health burden of Keystone virus in Florida

Keystone virus (KEYV) is an under-studied orthobunyavirus that is transmitted via both horizontal and vertical cycles involving various mosquito species and vertebrate hosts. Historical evidence indicates that KEYV causes sub-clinical infections in humans, and some case studies draw links between this virus and encephalitis. Given KEYV’s potential to cause human infections, it is plausible that it causes an under-appreciated proportion of both generic viral infections and unidentified viral encephalitis cases. This review summarizes current knowledge of KEYV and its disease dynamics in order to better understand the virus’ medical and economic burden on human populations.