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Mosquito warning
has health sting
The Ministry of Health is reminding the public to take protections against mosquitoes.
The warning comes after a person contracted Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) in the New England area, and another contracted the Kunjin virus.
Director of Health Protection, Dr Jeremy McAnulty said both people experienced relatively mild symptoms and were now recovering from the infections.
“The two cases, which are both caused by infections carried by mosquitoes, are a timely reminder for people to take precautions against mosquito borne infection,” Dr McAnulty said.
| Public advised to cover up |
“The person who had MVE was infected from mosquitoes west of the ranges in late 2011.
“It’s unclear when the person with Kunjin was infected, as the person had travelled both in coastal NSW and west of the ranges before infection.”
He said mosquito numbers increased in summer and with an increase in rainfall.
“Most people with MVE or Kunjin will not develop symptoms but the infections can have serious consequences for others,” he said.
“Anyone with symptoms of severe MVE or Kunjin infection should immediately seek medical assistance.”
Dr McAnulty said that in NSW, Kunjin was usually found west of the Great Dividing Range, although Kunjin activity was detected in horses in coastal NSW last year.
He said water birds were also important hosts for the virus in Australia and several viruses including MVE, Kunjin as well as Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses were transmitted by infected mosquitoes which bred in flooded, grassy and swamp areas and around rivers and waterways.
“Preventing these viruses depends on avoiding mosquito bites, especially in the warmer months of the year when mosquitoes are most active,” Dr McAnulty said.
Edition 255, 25 January 2012
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