Japanese encephalitis virus detected in Mundubbera and Monto
The dangerous mosquito-borne virus has been detected in multiple places across the region, with health authorities urging residents to take extra care to avoid bites. FULL DETAILS:
Central & North Burnett
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Residents are being warned to take extra precautions against mosquito bites, with Japanese encephalitis virus detected at multiple places in the North Burnett.
The Wide Bay Public Health unit confirmed the virus was in the region and issued a warning to residents to take special care to avoid being bitten.
The virus has been detected in Mundubbera and in the Monto and Mulgildie regions.
Fortunately, there has been no confirmed human case of the virus in the region.
The detection prompted a warning to residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, and to remove items from properties that could become breeding sites.
Most human infections of JEV cause no symptoms or mild symptoms such as headache or fever.
A person with severe disease may present with inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), characterised by sudden onset of vomiting, high fever and chills, severe headache, sensitivity to light, neck stiffness, seizures, disorientation and coma.
Less than one per cent of people infected may develop a serious illness such as encephalitis.
Children aged under five and older people are at a higher risk of developing more severe illnesses due to infection with JEV.
Last month, the man behind Swickers Bacon Factory in Kingaroy warned residents to be “incredibly diligent” as receding floodwaters across the state risked exposure to the Japanese encephalitis virus.
SunPork CEO Robert van Barneveld said the mosquito-borne virus was detected in numerous piggeries across the country, including a Suncorp-owned piggery in Goondiwindi.
He also emphasised the virus has no impact on the safety of pork.
“This virus is spread by mosquitoes. The pigs are an innocent bystanders,” Dr Barneveld said.
“It won’t have any impact on pork and we cannot overstate how seriously the health department will take this.”
There is no risk to humans from consuming pork or pig products and the virus cannot be spread directly from person to person.
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