Japanese encephalitis update

08 Apr 2022

 

Information from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment about Japanese encephalitis in Australia updated 6th April 2022.

 

Current Situation:

  • 63 infected piggeries have been reported, in QLD (8), NSW (30), Victoria (19) and SA (6).

  • There have been Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) detections in a small number of feral pigs in the West Daly region in the Northern Territory.

  • 23 human cases of JE have been confirmed, in QLD (2), NSW (10), SA (3) and VIC (8).

  • Three people have been confirmed to have died of JE, one in Victoria, one in NSW and one in SA.

  • In NSW mosquito surveillance has identified a few locations with higher numbers of mosquitoes. More intensive communication about mosquitoes and JE is being provided in these areas.

 

Enhancing passive disease surveillance in livestock in NSW Survey:

The NSW Department of Primary Industries survey is aimed at government district veterinarians (DVs) and private veterinary practitioners (PVPs) who see and treat livestock – whether they’re production animals or livestock kept as pets. Outcomes of the survey will help to inform the development of a framework to support PVPs and DVs to increase awareness of significant animal diseases, exclusion sampling and testing of cases with clinical syndromes consistent with priority emergency animal diseases for Australia. 

You can access the survey here. 

The survey will be available until 18 April 2022.   

More information about the Enhancing passive disease surveillance in livestock in NSW project can be found here. 
 

Webinar Recast Link:
For those members who may have missed the SHIC and AASV webinar last week on Australian Japanese Encephalitis Virus Outbreak – Field experience, epidemiology, and potential risks for transboundary movement.
Click here to access the recording. 

 

Vaccination Program:

State and Territory Public Health units are co-ordinating and implementing the priority vaccination program, with initial vaccinations underway, and it is expected they will be free.

Note: We now have direct contacts to the health units in every state so please email elaine.robertson@ava.com.au if you are yet to be contacted regarding vaccination and we can send your details directly onto our contacts in your state.

 

Reporting: 

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: