Griffith City Council has detected Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in a mosquito caught in a surveillance trap at Lake Wyangan last week.

The detection, to the east of the BCB News coverage area, is part of the Council’s ongoing Arbovirus Surveillance and Mosquito Monitoring Program, which monitors mosquito-borne diseases in the region.

The Council says recent rain events have created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as JEV.

The virus poses a significant public health concern, and residents are being strongly encouraged to take steps to protect themselves and their families.

What is JEV?

Japanese encephalitis is a rare but serious illness caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus. It is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes.

Most people who get Japanese encephalitis do not have any symptoms.

Some people may get symptoms such as fever, headache or vomiting.

People with a severe infection (1 in every 250 people) may get symptoms such as neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, coma, seizures or paralysis.

If you get these symptoms, contact a doctor right away, or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 or in an emergency call Triple Zero (000) or visit your nearest emergency department.

Among those who get a serious illness, some may have lifelong neurological complications or even death.

If you get symptoms, they can appear 5 to 15 days after getting bitten by infected mosquitoes.

Protect yourself

Follow the ‘Spray up, Cover up, Clean up, Screen up!’ guidelines:

• Cover Up: Wear loose, long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing and covered footwear, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Tight clothing is not mosquito-proof.
• Spray Up: Apply mosquito repellent containing picaridin, DEET, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin. Follow product instructions and reapply as necessary. Remember to apply sunscreen first, then repellent.
• Clean Up: Remove standing water around your home where mosquitoes may breed, such as in buckets, bird baths, or other containers.
• Screen Up: Ensure windows and doors are fitted with secure screens to keep mosquitoes out.

NSW Health says the Japanese encephalitis vaccine is safe and effective for people aged 2 months and older. Vaccination is recommended for those at the highest risk of catching Japanese encephalitis.

Once fully vaccinated, it can take between 2 to 4 weeks for your body to develop a protective immune response to the disease, so if you’re eligible, you should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

In NSW, a free Japanese encephalitis virus vaccination is available for people aged 2 months or older who live or routinely work in any of the below Local Government Areas (LGAs) and:

• regularly spend time outdoors placing them at risk of mosquito bites, or
• are experiencing homelessness, or
• are living in conditions with limited mosquito protection (e.g. tents, caravans, dwellings with no insect screens), or
• are engaging in outdoor flood recovery (clean-up) efforts, including repeated professional or volunteer deployments.
• Eligible LGAs include Hay, Balranald, Carrathool and Central Darling Shires.

A free JEV vaccination is also recommended for people who live in any part of NSW and:

• work, live, or are visiting a:
• piggery, including farm workers and their families (including children aged 2 months and older) living at the piggery, pig transport workers, veterinarians (including veterinary students and nurses) and others involved in the care of pigs
• pork abattoir or pork rendering plant.
• work directly with mosquitoes through their surveillance (field or laboratory based) or control and management, and indirectly through management of vertebrate mosquito-borne disease surveillance systems (e.g., sentinel animals) such as:
• environmental health officers and workers (urban and remote)
• entomologists.
• all diagnostic and research laboratory workers who may be exposed to the virus, such as people working with JEV cultures or mosquitoes with the potential to transmit JEV

If you are eligible for a free JEV vaccine, speak to your General Practitioner (GP), pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service about getting vaccinated today.

People who meet the above criteria should make an appointment with their GP, pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service and let them know it is for the Japanese encephalitis vaccine as they may require a few days' notice to order the vaccine.