Communities on the NSW and Victorian border are being urged to protect themselves against mosquito bites following a second case of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus in NSW.
Director of One Health at NSW Health, Keira Glasgow said the virus was detected in a man in his 50s from Hilltops, the local government area.
“It is the first time MVE has been identified in this region,” Ms Glasgow said.
“The man was infected between late January and mid-February 2023, and was most likely exposed to the virus at home but had exposures across southern NSW, including as far east as the Shoalhaven,” she said.
“MVE has also recently been detected in border communities in Victoria.”
Ms Glasgow said the latest case followed recent MVE detections in mosquitoes and sentinel chickens in western and southern NSW where surveillance was being carried out.
She urged the community to do everything they could to protect themselves as there was no vaccine or specific treatment for MVE.
“The best way to avoid infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, which are most active between dusk and dawn,” the One Health Director said.
“Avoiding mosquito bites will also protect against other mosquito-borne infections including Japanese encephalitis, Kunjin and Barmah Forest viruses,” she said.
“Only a small proportion of people infected with Murray Valley Encephalitis virus will have any symptoms, which include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, and muscle aches.”
Further information on mosquito-borne diseases can be accessed at this PS News link.
