First case of Japanese encephalitis this summer recorded in NSW

Table of Contents

A bloke from NSW who caught the Japanese encephalitis virus while camping is getting better in hospital.

It's the first case of Japanese encephalitis, which claimed the lives of two people in the state last year, to be reported in humans this summer in NSW.

A NSW Health spokesperson, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, stated on the weekend that the bloke probably picked up the infection while camping in the Murrumbidgee region towards the end of December or early January.

Along with discoveries of the virus in pigs and mosquitoes in NSW, and detections in Victoria and Queensland, McAnulty said the bloke's case highlighted the risk of JE virus infection in a big chunk of NSW out west of the Great Dividing Range.

"It's crucial for people living in or visiting these areas to be aware of the heightened risk and take precautions against mosquito bites. Along with the JE virus, other viruses like Murray Valley Encephalitis, Kunjin, Ross River, and Barmah Forest can also be transmitted through mosquito bites," he said.

Japanese encephalitis is a rare, but potentially serious infection of the central nervous system. It is carried by some, but not all mosquitoes.

Most people who contract JE don't experience any symptoms. For those who do, symptoms typically start to develop between five to 15 days after being bitten by infected mosquitoes. They include fever, headache and vomiting.

People with a severe infection (1 in every 250 people) may experience neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, coma, seizures and paralysis.

A safe, effective and free vaccine to protect against JE was available to anyone who lives or works in various inland LGAs, as well as for people in certain high-risk occupations.

Following the confirmation of two human cases, and two fatalities in 2022.

stated that before the 2021-2022 mosquito season, Japanese encephalitis virus had been relatively rare in Australia, with previous cases only reported in Northern Australia, specifically Cape York and the Torres Strait.

It's not clear how or when the Japanese encephalitis virus arrived in mainland Australia, but NSW Health suggests that infected mosquitoes or migratory water birds that travelled here might have contributed to its spread, possibly linked to significant rain events.

The first JEV outbreak on the mainland in Australia occurred in March 2022, prompting the federal government to declare the JE virus a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance (CDINS) and launch an urgent response.

A total of 45 people were infected and seven people died before the government declared the emergency response over and the states and territories were left to manage any ongoing risks.

While it's uncommon to see symptoms of JE, the death rate for people who get encephalitis can be as high as 30 per cent.

Permanent neurological, cognitive and behavioural symptoms affect between 30 to 50 per cent of people who have encephalitis.

The majority of cases are children under the age of 15.

There's no cure. Treatment is centred on easing severe symptoms and helping the patient get over the infection.

Get the most out of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter . every Monday .