CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A little boy's fight to survive a mosquito-borne virus has families in Charlotte on alert.
The illness could be worse than the Zika virus.
Doctors are treating 11-year-old J.J. Wise at Levine's Children's Hospital.
The case has mosquito-spraying companies in Charlotte bracing for more calls.
Ginger Johnson is the owner of Mosquito Squad in Matthews.
She's preparing for the influx of calls she said her company will be inundated with in the coming weeks.
She blames a mosquito borne-virus called La Crosse.
"Some people think that it may go just right in their area, but mosquitoes do travel," she said.
For nearly two months, doctors have been treating Wise, from western North Carolina, for the La Crosse virus.
He suffered a stroke and then was put in an induced coma to stop brain swelling.
The incident is bound to "make people concerned about their children outside," Johnson said.
Many people who get La Crosse virus show no symptoms, but it is known to cause brain swelling, seizures, comas and paralysis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it's commonly found in the Carolinas.
J.J.'s mother was stunned when one of her son's doctors told her there are from 80 to 100 cases in the state.
"Nobody knows about this," Wise said. "I mean, I was blown away by that statistic."
Parent Stephanie Eberly said she's already taking precautions, but isn't letting the concern change her daily routine.
"Heartbreaking," Eberly said. "I'll be praying for that family, for sure. I would be devastated as a parent."
Wise's family said the boy is recovering and will need outpatient therapy.