COMMUNITIES along the Murray River have been encouraged to take measures to protect themselves against mosquito bites as routine animal surveillance indicates Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus has survived winter in the region.
NSW Health executive director Dr Jeremy McAnulty said the detection of JE in pigs in the region was made as part of planned ongoing surveillance for the mosquito-borne virus.
Dr McAnulty said it was a timely reminder to the community to take action to prevent mosquito bites including applying repellent regularly to all areas of exposed skin, wearing loose, long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing and covered footwear when outside and mosquito proofing homes.
“Despite the winter season where mosquito populations usually diminish, it appears the Japanese encephalitis virus has continued to circulate along the Murray River, presumably between mosquitoes and waterbirds,” Dr McAnulty said.
He reminded the community that a broader group of people are now eligible for free vaccination against the virus, and he strongly encouragds those people get vaccinated.
“Now is the right time to vaccinate if you spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, because it takes between two to four weeks following vaccination to develop a protective immune response to the virus,” he said.
“I would also continue to urge the community to stay vigilant and take precautions against mosquito bites altogether because, aside from Japanese encephalitis, mosquitoes carry a range of viruses for which there are no vaccines.”
JE vaccine is recommended for people aged two months or older who live or routinely work in 41 Local Government Areas with identified JE risk, including the Wentworth Shire.
Dr McAnulty advised community members to call ahead and make an appointment with a GP or pharmacist and let them know it is for the JE vaccine as a few days’ notice may be required to order in the vaccine.
Pharmacists who have completed appropriate training are able to provide JE vaccine in NSW.
Supply of JE vaccine continues to be severely constrained in Australia, however, additional vaccines are expected to arrive in the first part of 2023.
The latest data from the NSW Arbovirus Surveillance & Mosquito Monitoring Program shows very high number of mosquitoes in the Murray River region, however the species of mosquito most capable of spreading JE were detected in low levels within the region.
There have been no detected cases of JE in NSW residents so far this mosquito season.
