CHO Health Advisory: Health warning mosquitoes and Ross River virus

05 January, 2017

Status: Active
Issued by: Professor Charles Guest, Chief Health Officer, Victoria
Issued to: Health professionals, aged care facilities, and the Victorian community
Date issued: 04 Jan 2017     
                   
   
Key messages:

  • Residents and visitors to Victoria are being warned to protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases such as Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Murray Valley encephalitis.
  • Ross River virus has now been detected in mosquitoes around Mildura and Moira / Barmah Forest, giving an early indication of increased risk of human disease for summer and early autumn.
  • The best protection from these diseases is to avoid mosquito bites - protective measures include regularly using mosquito repellent containing picaridin or DEET, wearing loose fitting clothing when outside and ensuring accommodation is mosquito proof.
  • A range of information relating to protecting against mosquito bites is available on the Beat the Bite campaign page on the Better Health Channel.
  • Doctors should consider the possibility of mosquito-borne disease in patients presenting with a compatible illness, especially after travel to rural or regional Victoria.
  • Notify Murray Valley encephalitis immediately on suspicion and Ross River and Barmah Forest virus after laboratory confirmation.    

More information
For the latest information about this issue see: Health warning mosquitoes and Ross River virus

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