Flood effected communities and clean-up crews can now access the free Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine with the Department of Health expanding its eligibility.
Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Disease), Dr Deborah Friedman said flooding, pooling of stagnant water and increased mosquito breeding had intensified the risk of mosquito-borne diseases this season.
“Japanese encephalitis is a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain caused by the JE virus that can be spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes,” Dr Friedman said.
“Most JE virus infections cause no symptoms, however less than one per cent of people with infection may develop encephalitis which may lead to death or permanent disability,” she said.
“Symptoms include fever, vomiting, headache, neck or back stiffness, sensitivity to light, confusion, seizures, and sometimes coma.”
Dr Friedman said that while there had been no human, animal or mosquito detections of JE virus in Victoria this season, people in northern Victoria, and along the Murray River who spent significant time outdoors and were exposed to mosquitoes were most at risk of JE virus.
She said people who lived near or worked with pigs in these areas were also considered at higher risk.
The Deputy Chief Health Officer said eligibility for the JE vaccine had been expanded to include people aged two months and older who lived or routinely worked in 13 Local Government Areas in northern Victoria.
Dr Friedman said this included people who were living in temporary or flood damaged accommodation, were engaged in the prolonged outdoor clean-up efforts of stagnant waters following floods, or spent significant time outdoors (four hours per day), for unavoidable work, recreation, education, or other essential activities.
She said the priority LGAs included Campaspe, Gannawarra, Greater Shepparton, Indigo, Loddon, Mildura, Moira, Swan Hill, Wodonga, Towong and now Benalla, Wangaratta, and Strathbogie.
