Activity of Murray Valley Encephalitis recorded in the Top End

A dangerous virus spread by mosquitoes has been recorded in the Top End, with authorities encouraging people to take care after dark.

A RARE but fatal mosquito-borne virus has been reported in the Top End community.

Murray Valley Encephalitis activity has been discovered through blood tests on chickens located in Darwin, Katherine and East Arnhem.

The virus, spread through mosquito bites, has only recorded 38 cases since 1974, but seven of those cases have been fatal.

The most recent case was in a Katherine man as early as last year, and before that in the Darwin region in 2018.

Director of the Medical Entomology Unit at NT Health Nina Kurucz said infection of the virus could result in serious health symptoms.

“Murray Valley Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain — symptoms start with severe headache and fever, nausea and vomiting and you can have muscle aches.

“If it progresses you can have drowsiness, confusion, seizures and in some cases delirium, comas and it can be fatal,” she said.

Ms Kurucz said in addition to the seven deaths, the virus had left five people with permanent neurological damage.

Her advice for the public was to avoid getting bitten, especially after the sun sets as that’s when that type of insect was most active.

“People should cover off with long sleeves, preferably in light colours,” she said.

“Use insect repellent and mosquito coils which you can get from the supermarket.”

The evidence had shown that mosquitos carrying the virus were still in high numbers around swamps and wetlands at the moment.

Ms Kurucz also advised parents to take car that children and infants were protected from getting bitten.

The season of high risk of MVE is until the end of July.

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS RECORDED IN NT

NT residents have been warned to be extra cautious with mosquito bites after an increase in Japanese encephalitis (JE) in the Top End region.

Over 40 feral pigs infected with JE have been detected across the Victoria Daly, Litchfield, Marrakai-Douglas Daly and Cox-Daly region, as well as the Tiwi Islands, since March.

JE is a serious disease spread by mosquitos and can infect humans and some animals, such as pigs, horses and some birds.

Director of the Medical Entomology Unit at NT Health Nina Kurucz said the highest risk period of being bitten by an infected mosquito was after sundown within 5km of wetlands.

“The best way to prevent JE and other mosquito-borne viruses is to avoid getting bitten,” Ms Kurucz said.

“It is recommended people wear protective light-coloured clothing with long sleeves, long trousers and socks in areas where mosquito bites are likely.

“People should also use a protective repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalypt.”

The NT Government has partnered with the Australian Government’s Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy to undertake surveillance of the disease in the Top End region.

Staff from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade have been engaged to monitor feral and domestic animals for signs of JE.

Meanwhile, NT Health manages the mosquito surveillance program.

No domestic pigs or mosquitos have tested positive to JE so far.

The illness is asymptomatic for most people, but it can result in severe disease, or even death.

Symptoms include fever, headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, confusion, seizures and paralysis.

“While JE can potentially be fatal, it is not transmitted from person to person or from eating infected pork meat,” Ms Kurucz said.

“People who believe they may be infected with the JE virus should seek urgent medical assistance.”

Originally published as Activity of Murray Valley Encephalitis recorded in the Top End