Queensland mother talks son’s recovery in ICU, Dr Steven Donohue explains rare Murray Valley encephalitis

The mother of a young man fighting for his life against an incredibly rare virus in Townsville ICU has given an update on his condition while detailing the heart-warming generosity she’s received since sharing her son’s story.

Isaac Pearce, 25, currently in Townsville ICU after contracting extremely rare Murray Valley encephalitis. Picture: Facebook

Mel Jones has not left her son’s bedside after he contracted the extremely rare virus - Murray Valley encephalitis - and was taken to intensive care for treatment.

Miss Jones has now revealed the heart-warming generosity people have shown since her son’s story was shared by the Townsville Bulletin last week.

People were devastated when the news broke of 25-year-old Isaac Pearce being diagnosed with MVE after he started work at a cattle station in the Cape.

At the time Ms Jones shared the heartbreaking story, a GoFundMe had been launched to ensure she could stay by his side at the Townsville Intensive Care Unit, which had raised $2800.

It’s now been one week and more than $14,000 has been raised.

“The GoFundMe has lifted a massive worry off our shoulders,” Miss Jones said.

“Complete strangers have donated and I’m just blown away by how many people wanted to pitch in to make it easier for mum and I. We will be forever grateful.”

On top of the financial support, Isaac’s devoted mother said she had felt touched by people’s support, both at the hospital and outside.

“We’re also grateful for the small victories that happen along the way, when they do pop up sometimes, and to the nurses and social workers who have been there for me,” she said.

Isaac Pearce was flown to Townsville University Hospital after contracting Murray Valley encephalitis . Picture: contributed

“Even the nurses who don’t look after him come in and stir him and make him smile.”

She said there had not been enormous progress in Isaac’s recovery and there was a “very long road ahead”.

Director of Public Health Dr Steven Donohue talked to the Townsville Bulletin broadly about what treatment looked like for those who had been diagnosed with MVE, given its rarity and not having a vaccine available.

“A person with encephalitis can’t swallow so we will give them IV fluids, if they can’t breathe we can put them on a ventilator,” he said.

“It’s just supportive care.

“The thing is if it were more common we might have a vaccine now because there’d be incentive to do the research and pay for the research.”

Dr Donohue said that Murray Valley virus, like other mosquito-borne viruses, don’t always present with symptoms in people, in fact, most people who have Murray Valley virus barely get sick if at all.

“Some would have only a very mild illness only, about roughly one in one thousand is going to get encephalitis,” he said.

“On rare occasions, it causes life-threatening encephalitis.”

When discussing if there were any prevention measurements people could take and where people were more likely to contract Murray Valley virus, he said it was generally not locals at the top end of the country.

“The thing we see in the Gulf community or the top end is sometimes a tourist who has turned up or gone camping, who may not necessarily be taking a lot of precautions against mozzie bites, they may not have a screen tent,” he said.

“They may be a visiting worker.

“Because so much of this is just bad luck it’s not as if other people on that property or in that town are at imminent risk of getting MVE, no, it’s like being struck by lightning but it’s a place where lightning occurs.”

Originally published as Queensland mother talks son’s recovery in ICU, Dr Steven Donohue explains rare Murray Valley encephalitis