Queensland floods raise Japanese encephalitis risk, with cases suspected in Victoria
A potentially deadly form of mosquito-borne encephalitis has travelled from the tip of Queensland’s Cape York all the way to Victoria, and experts are worried the recent wet weather might put more people at risk.
Only six people have developed serious symptoms from the disease in Australia, but of those six, three died., as well as on a property in southern Queensland in recent weeks. Instead, at least three cases of encephalitis - dangerous swelling of the brain - recorded in Melbourne are suspected to be JEV, meaning it has been transmitted from pigs to humans in that state, indicating the virus has travelled the length of the east coast undetected., which feeds on a range of animals, including birds, pigs and humans.
Queensland Health was aware of the situation in Victoria, and had started working with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries as well as industry leaders to test and contain any outbreaks of the virus.was exacerbating the risk of a number of mosquito-borne illnesses“Given the recent flooding and the slow receding of some floodwaters, we are likely to see an increase in mosquito numbers in coming weeks,” the spokeswoman said.
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