First case of Japanese encephalitis this summer recorded in NSW

A bloke who caught the Japanese encephalitis virus while camping in NSW is recuperating in hospital.

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

The NSW Health’s executive director of health protection, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, stated on Saturday that the bloke probably picked up the infection while he was camping in late December or early January in the Murrumbidgee area.

Along with discoveries of the virus in pigs and mozzies 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 west of the Great Dividing Range.

“It’s crucial for people living or visiting these regions to be mindful of the increased risk and take measures to prevent mosquito bites. Along with JE virus, Murray Valley Encephalitis, Kunjin, Ross River, and Barmah Forest viruses 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 appear five to 15 days after being bitten by infected mosquitoes. They include a fever, headache and vomiting.

Folks experiencing a severe infection (1 in every 250 people) might experience neck stiffness, get disoriented, have tremors, go into a coma, have seizures and become paralysed.

A safe, effective and free vaccine to protect against JE was available to anyone who resides or regularly works in various inland local government areas, as well as for people who work in certain other high-risk occupations.

Following confirmation of two human infections and two deaths in 2022, the virus was identified.

claimed beforehand the 2021-2022 mosquito season, Japanese encephalitis virus had hardly ever been detected in Australia, with previous instances noted only in northern Australia, Cape York and the Torres Strait.

It’s not clear when or how Japanese encephalitis virus arrived in mainland Australia, but NSW Health suggests it might have been brought in by infected mosquitoes or migratory water birds, possibly triggered by significant rain events.

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

A total of 45 people were infected and seven people died before the government ended the special emergency response and left states and territories to handle any ongoing risks.

Although symptomatic Japanese Encephalitis is a relatively rare occurrence, the death rate among those who develop encephalitis can reach as high as 30 per cent.

Permanent neurological, cognitive, and behavioural symptoms occur in 30 to 50 per cent of people with encephalitis.

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

There’s no cure. Treatment focuses on easing severe symptoms and helping the patient recover from the infection.

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