A nearly tenfold increase in reports of the mosquito-borne Ross River virus has prompted a fresh reminder for residents to protect themselves.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Charles Guest said there had been 1012 notifications of Ross River virus statewide as of February 13 – nearly 10 times greater than for previous major floods.
In 2011, there were 103 notifications of the virus up until February 13.
Most cases reported this year were from the Loddon Mallee and Hume regions with 238 cases in Loddon Mallee Region (and 329 in the Hume Region).
In the Swan Hill local government area, 28 cases have been reported to the Department of Health, six of those cases reported just last week.
Neighbouring Gannawarra shire reported 21 cases of the virus, more than half the total of cases last year, while Mildura has recorded 27, three in Buloke and six in Loddon.
There were 13 total notifications in the Swan Hill LGA in 2016.
To read more of this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (February 20).
