The Department of Health has issued alerts for a number of mosquito-borne diseases recently. They include Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), Japanese encephalitis (JE), Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus.
- Symptoms of MVE may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches, although most infected people do not have symptoms. In serious cases, people can develop meningitis or encephalitis.
- Most JE virus infections are asymptomatic. A small proportion may present with a febrile illness, however less than one per cent may experience severe infection manifested by headache, vomiting, disorientation, seizures, coma, and more rarely, permanent neurological complications or death.
- Symptoms of Ross River virus infection and Barmah Forest virus infection can include fever, chills, headache, rash, joint pain and stiffness, muscle pain and fatigue
Anyone with symptoms should seek urgent medical care.
Keep your family and workers safe by removing mosquito breeding sites around your home.
Take the time to discuss with your workers how they can avoid mosquito bites by using supplied mosquito repellent containing picaridin or DEET on all exposed skin.
Ensure workers wear long, loose fitting clothing when outside, and ensure on site accommodation is fitted with mosquito nettings or screens.
Undertake a team talk with workers to improve their understanding of the risk and seriousness of these viruses and to consult with them around what else can be done.
More information can be viewed here.