MEMBERS of the Balranald community are encouraged to provide a blood sample and complete a short survey as part of an effort by NSW Health to identify historic infections of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).
JEV is a serious disease spread by mosquitos that can cause reproductive losses in pigs and horses, and in rare cases can cause disease in people.
Most infections in people are asymptomatic. However, less than one percent of cases result in severe infection, which can cause neck stiffness, coma, and possible neurological complications.
NSW Health director of zoonoses at health protection Keira Glasgow said the blood sample survey could provide valuable information of how many people may have been exposed to JEV in the earlier, warmer months.
“Now that the weather is cooler, mosquito activity has declined and there is currently little risk of active transmission of JEV, but we still do not know why the disease came to Australia this year during our warmer, wetter conditions,” Ms Glasgow said.
“Because less than one per cent of people infected with JEV experience symptoms, it is likely people were infected in these areas without even knowing it.”
JEV was first detected in NSW in late February, and since then 13 people have been diagnosed with the disease, and two have died. All were believed to have acquired the illness between mid-January and the end of February.
“That’s why we will be asking people who lived in specific areas of regional NSW earlier this year to help by providing blood at one of the five survey sites that will advertised locally over the coming weeks,” Ms Glasgow said.
“The result of the blood testing will help us understand JEV infection rates, give us a clue on how long ago the virus was introduced into NSW, how many people were infected and the behaviours of activities associated with infection.”
The blood sample survey will also take place in Dubbo, Corowa, Temora and Griffith. Ms Glasgow said it was particularly important that only people who lived in these areas between January and March 2022 participate in order to make sure the results are as useful as possible.
JEV activity may increase again as we head into the warmer months, with these samples becoming useful in helping NSW Health, NSW Department of Primary Industry, the Commonwealth Department of Health and other stakeholders prepare for such an increase.
Sampling will be undertaken at Balranald MPS today (9am-5pm), tomorrow (8.30am-4.30pm) and Thursday (9am-5pm).
To be eligible to participate, you must have lived in or near Balranald between January 1, 2022 and March 31, 2022. All ages can take part, with those under the age of 16 required to be accompanied by a parent or carer who will need to provide consent. All participants will receive the results of their blood test.
For the latest information on confirmed cases of JEV and advice of how to protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases, visit the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/jevirus.
