NEW South Wales Health is urging locals and tourists to stay vigilant and protect themselves against mosquito bites after Japanese encephalitis and Murray Valley encephalitis was detected in parts of the state.
Mosquitos thrive in the summer due to the warmer temperatures, increasing the risk of various mosquito-borne illnesses.
NSW Health’s executive director of health protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty said from November to April the authority keeps watch across the state and monitors if and when the illnesses are present.
“Japanese encephalitis virus has now been found in mosquitos in the Moree area, in the first results reported from the program this year,” he said.
“JE virus was previously detected in mosquitoes in December 2024 in the Griffith area, and in feral pigs in the Narromine Shire local government area.
“These detections indicate the risk for mosquito-borne virus transmission is widespread, particularly in the 55 NSW local government areas that are at higher risk of JE in the inland regions.
“I encourage anyone planning to spend time outdoors in these higher-risk areas to take steps to protect against mosquito bites.”
To avoid being bitten, health department advice says people avoid being outside during the peak mosquito times of dusk and dawn, applying repellent to exposed skin, wearing socks and shoes as well as light and loose-fitting clothing, covering windows and doors with insect screens and removing items that can collect water and become mosquito breeding spots.
For those at risk including people who work in designated hot spots, the JE vaccine is available potentially for free, however there is not a vaccine for Murray Valley Encephalitis virus.
