Japanese Encephalitis update - November 2022

NSW Department of Primary Industries has confirmed the first case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in pigs for the 2022-2023 season. The piglets were from a property in the Murray Local Land Services region, a region that has been heavily flood impacted during winter and a part of the outbreak earlier this year.

Japanese encephalitis virus is a nationally notifiable disease, which means if you suspect an animal is showing signs of the disease, you must report it. You can do this by calling the national Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888. This will put you in touch with your state or territory’s agriculture department.

State based web resources:

• Victoria
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• NSW
  • NSW Health webpage: Japanese encephalitis virus

Mosquito management is very important to control this disease. Useful resources include:

• JE Guide: Integrated mosquito management principles for piggeries (V2)
• JE Factsheet: Controlling mosquitoes around piggeries (V2)
• Mosquito management for horses – available at Mosquito Management for Horses - Farm Biosecurity
• Farm Biosecurity webpage: Controlling mosquitoes around piggeries – available at Controlling mosquitoes around piggeries - Farm Biosecurity

For more information go to the AVA Japanese encephalitis page.