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What is the mosquito-borne virus Japanese encephalitis? 
Words: Dixie Sulda & Patrick JamesProducer: Bianca Mastroianni
South Australians are being warned to protect themselves against mosquito bites as the state’s first cases of Japanese encephalitis are confirmed.
Following an investigation of 10 people with acute encephalitis identified in the past month, four of the cases have now been confirmed as Japanese encephalitis.
Department for Health and Wellbeing’s health protection and licensing services executive director Dr Chris Lease said three people had acquired the infection locally.
Japanese encephalitis is a rare disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus. It spreads in pigs, horses and waterbirds, and is transmitted to humans via infected mosquitoes.
What is Japanese encephalitis?
JEV was first detected in northern Australia in 1995. It's popped up sporadically in Australia, but previously, only in Far North Queensland.
Sky News
Sky News
Mosquito-borne viruses like  Japanese encephalitis, along with dengue, Kokobera, West Nile virus, and Murray Valley belong to the flavivirus group of viruses.All flavivirus infections can develop into encephalitis, which can be deadly.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has blamed JEV's spread on the wet weather. Mosquito-borne viruses are increasingly being detected in south-east Australia, driven by the La Nina weather pattern.
Why is it spreading?
Kokobera virus has been detected in recent weeks in adult mozzies in the Riverland.
JEV has been detected in more than 40 piggeries in NSW Queensland and Victoria.
The vast majority of JEV infections cause no symptoms.Others may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and vomiting. 
What are the symptoms?
Less than 1 per cent will develop encephalitis, which may be fatal or cause long-term neurological damage.Symptoms of encephalitis may include confusion, headaches, neck stiffness, tremors, drowsiness and seizures.
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DR CHRIS LEASE
Australia’s acting chief medical officer Dr Sonya Bennett has declared the unfolding JEV outbreak a “communicable disease incident of national significance”.
In addition to the cases of encephalitis, there have been 77 cases of Ross River virus reported in SA this year, up from 48 the same time last year.
																																								

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