NT Health warn of mosquito-borne diseases following encephalitis death

A woman in her 70s has died in the NT from a deadly mosquito-borne disease, as the Top End enters the high risk period.

A Top End woman has died after contracting a dangerous virius spread by mosquitos, as the NT enters the high risk period for mosquito-borne diseases.

The woman, who was in her 70s, died as a result of Murray Valley encephalitis.

The disease is uncommon, but is fatal in 30 per cent of cases.

NT Health believe the case was acquired in Darwin.

It comes as the fifth reported death from MVE in the NT over the past 20 years, and the eighth since 1974.

Following the recent death, NT Health issued a warning about mosquito borne diseases including Japanese encephalitis.

A person has died from a mosquito-borne disease in the Top End.

There has been three recorded cases of JE in the NT since February 2021, including one death.

The high-risk period for serious mosquito borne diseases in the NT is between February and June.

Infants and young children are at the most risk of contracting mosquito-borne dieses, as are newcomers to the NT and people close to mosquito breeding areas after sundown.

Those breeding areas are normally near swamps, creeks and wetlands.

The wetlands bordering the Northern Suburbs of Darwin have recently been sprayed to control breeding and reduce risk.

The symptoms of MVE include severe headache, high fever, drowsiness, tremor, seizures.

And in some cases can progress to delirium, coma, permanent brain damage and death.