Australia to roll-out vaccines to contain spread of Japanese encephalitis virus

Since late February, the mosquito-borne virus has reached many states and infected 16 people with two confirmed deaths

The government would invest US$51 million on control measures and inoculate people working close to mosquitoes and pigs, which are vulnerable to infection

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Australia has advised people to try to avoid mosquito bites, including by covering exposed skin and removing containers of water where they may breed. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 2:14pm, 11 Mar 2022

Australia said on Friday it is buying extra vaccines to fight the potentially deadly, mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus, which has spread down the flood-hit east coast for the first time.

Previously confined to the tropical north, since late February Japanese encephalitis has travelled as far south as South Australia – infecting a total 16 people with two confirmed deaths, according to state health authorities.

More extreme rainfall events have brought greater numbers of mosquitos to eastern Australia, one scientist said, as the country battles higher temperatures blamed on climate change that mean the atmosphere holds more moisture.

There is no specific treatment for the disease, which is spread only by mosquito bites.

Fewer than one per cent of people infected may develop a serious illness such as encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain tissues, Australia’s federal health ministry said.