Japanese encephalitis virus spreads from pigs to humans in Australia
- Cases were confirmed in the states of Queensland and Victoria, prompting officials to roll-out targeted vaccinations there
- Most people display no symptoms when infected, but a small fraction may develop serious illness from the mosquito-borne disease
The confirmed Japanese encephalitis case in Queensland state, along with three suspected human infections in Victoria, follows the detection of the virus earlier in the week across multiple pork farms.
On Friday, the nation’s health department declared the situation a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.
While serious sickness from the disease is rare and most people display no symptoms when infected, a small fraction may develop serious illness. There are up to 68,000 clinical cases of Japanese encephalitis detected globally each year, causing as many as 20,400 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Most cases globally are concentrated in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific regions, and some outbreaks have resulted in widespread pig culls. Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Mark Schipp said in a statement earlier this week that it’s the first time the virus has been detected in southern Australia.