Outbreaks of encephalitis are now widespread in many states around Australia, with 16 confirmed viruses and 2 deaths nationwide.
There is one confirmed case in Queensland. South Australia (SA) Health reported that the virus was identified in four South Australian states that all required hospitalization, and said three of these cases were contracted locally.
In Victoria, there were 7 confirmed cases of the virus and 1 death. The state health ministry told AAP that the death was a man from northern Victoria in his 60s who died on February 28 for unknown reasons, but an autopsy revealed that he died as a result of Japanese encephalitis. rice field. The agency said it was unaware of how the man was infected with the virus and is currently investigating death.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” a spokesman for one department said in a statement reported by AAP on Tuesday.
“It is highly recommended to take steps to limit mosquito exposure and avoid mosquito habitats such as stagnant water.”
New South Wales (NSW) Health has identified four cases of the virus and one death. The agency identified the virus at an autopsy of a 70-year-old man in the Griffith area who died in a Sydney hospital on February 13.
NSW Health also said it has found some suspicious cases and expects more cases to appear in AAP in the coming days and weeks.
The Encephalitis Association, an international group advocating awareness of encephalitis, has called on Australia to recognize the threat posed by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).
“Encephalitis is an unrecognized bright red condition,” Ava Easton, CEO of the Encephalitis Society, told AAP.
“Australia is still facing extreme weather events, so all Australians have learned about this highly realistic illness and dismissed it as a low-risk potential or too rare story. I urge you not to do it. “
Easton also told AAP that the mosquito-borne virus that spreads encephalitis “proliferates” as the recent severe floods experienced by Queensland and New South Wales provided an ideal environment for the virus.
Outbreaks have spread rapidly to Australian piggery, with dozens of cases being identified in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia.
David Littleproud, Australia’s Federal Minister of Agriculture, said ABC Radio National On March 7, the disease was confirmed in about 42 piggery houses across Australia.
He said the case was constant, but the federal government was closely monitoring the situation.
Deborah Friedman, deputy chief health officer of the Victorian era, told AAP that encephalitis had been identified in the piggery of municipalities in Rodton, Kampasp, Gannawara, Bendigo, Shepparton and Wangaratta. Authorities were delayed weeks or months in detecting the virus exposed to pigs between September and November 2021, according to Friedman.
Friedman told reporters, “The reason it was detected or suspected in the piggery was because of what they call reproductive loss.”
“The pig had what was called a stillborn piglet, or a mummified piglet, which means he had previously died in the womb.”
Freidman said the exposure took place 115 days (the gestation period of the pig) before the stillbirth piglets appeared.
Two different vaccinations are available to protect the JEV to prepare for the outbreak of the virus.
Vaccines are distributed to people at high risk of infection and those at high risk of developing serious illnesses due to the infection.
People at high risk of exposure are those who work with or around pigs such as transport workers, veterinarians, butchers, and hunters. Elderly people or children under the age of 5 are at risk of developing a serious illness.
“Only about 1% of cases show symptoms, and few have extreme symptoms that require hospitalization, but it’s still a nasty illness,” Victoria Health Minister Martin Foley told AAP. ..
People living in areas with high mosquitoes need to apply mosquito repellents to cover exposed skin to reduce the risk of infection.
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Lily Kelly is an Australian-based reporter for The Epoch Times, dealing with social issues, renewable energy, the environment, health and science.