The Victorian Department of Health is advising residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites by using mosquito repellent that contains picaridin or diethyltoluamide.
An Australian individual is currently in critical condition in Melbourne after contracting Japanese encephalitis, a rare virus transmitted through mosquito bites.
The Department of Health in Victoria recently issued a warning regarding a suspected human case of Japanese encephalitis virus in a resident from northern Victoria.
According to a GoFundMe page, Stevie Bond is fighting for his life at St Vincent’s Hospital and is in critical condition after contracting the virus.
Bond informed his wife of his headache and fever after returning from work in Finley, a town near the Victorian border in New South Wales. Concerned, his wife took him to Shepparton Hospital in Victoria.
After Bond’s health deteriorated, he was transferred to intensive care and then airlifted to St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne in critical condition.
Stevie remains in critical condition with Japanese encephalitis, as confirmed by his family.
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne is providing care to the Japanese encephalitis patient in critical condition.
The Department of Health in Victoria stated that the Japanese encephalitis virus has been detected through environmental surveillance in northern Victoria along the Murray River.
Acting Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath noted that the virus has also been found in mosquitoes and feral pigs in NSW this summer.
Residents and visitors in northern Victoria, particularly in inland riverine regions and near the Murray River, are at a higher risk of infection and should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
The health department recommends using mosquito repellent containing picaridin or diethyltoluamide on exposed skin to prevent mosquito bites.
Mosquito testing is being conducted over the summer to identify high-risk areas for the virus.
NSW Health Executive Director of Health Protection, Dr. Jeremy McAnulty, emphasized the importance of surveillance for mosquito-borne diseases in warm conditions.
Murray Valley encephalitis has been detected in sentinel chicken flocks in Cowra and West Wyalong, with severe symptoms including brain swelling and potential death.
Individuals planning to spend time outdoors in higher-risk areas are advised to protect themselves against mosquito bites.
