Authorities are advising caution when visiting regions at risk of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) following a recent case of the disease in a man who camped in southern New South Wales (NSW). Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Executive Director of Health Protection at NSW Health, confirmed that the man likely contracted the virus in late December or early January during his camping trip in the Murrumbidgee area. He is currently recovering in hospital.
This incident, along with recent case detections in pigs and mosquitoes across NSW, as well as findings in Victoria and Queensland, underscores the growing risk of JE outside the Great Dividing Range. It is vital for residents and visitors to these areas to be aware of the heightened danger and to undertake measures to prevent mosquito bites. In addition to JE, other viruses like Murray Valley Encephalitis and Ross River Virus can also be transmitted via mosquito bites.
Japanese Encephalitis, first identified in NSW in 2022, spreads when an infected mosquito bites an animal and then subsequently bites a human. It is not transmissible between humans and cannot be contracted through pork consumption. Symptoms may develop five to 15 days after infection, including fever and vomiting. A safe and effective vaccine is available for those living or working in high-risk areas, and precautions like using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing are highly recommended.