General News
15 November, 2023
Protect against mosquitoes as weather warms
Health’s Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit (LMPHU) is urging residents to prepare for mosquito season through Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination and reducing your risk of getting bitten. While the most common disease carried by mosquitoes in...
Health’s Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit (LMPHU) is urging residents to preparefor mosquito season through Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination and reducing your risk
of getting bitten.
While the most common disease carried by mosquitoes in the Loddon Mallee region is RossRiver Virus, which most people recover from completely within three to six months, there
are other potentially serious infections that have been reported in Victoria and other south-eastern Australian states.
This includes Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE).
“The Loddon Mallee is a high-risk region for mosquito diseases as evidenced by thecirculation of Murray Valley encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis over the last two years,”
LMPHU Medical Director Dr Naveen Tenneti said.
“For some people, infection with these viruses can cause severe disease and so it is criticalwe take action to reduce risk.”
During the hotter months, mosquitoes can breed more and are present in higher numbers inthe Loddon Mallee region.
Heavier rainfall and the ongoing impacts of flooding from late 2022 may also createconditions even more favourable to mosquito breeding.
Some of these mosquitoes can carry diseases they can then transmit to humans when theybite.
Many people living and working in the Loddon Mallee area will be eligible for the JEvaccination if they live or work (including seasonal workers) in high-risk local government
areas (LGAs) and regularly spend time in the outdoors.
Dr Tenneti urged residents to speak with their health practitioner or check the websitefor the Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit to see where they can get vaccinated.
“It is important to note the vaccine will only protect you against Japanese encephalitis,” hesaid.
To further reduce your risk against mosquito-borne diseases:
remove stagnant water around your house
use mosquito repellent
avoid areas with high mosquito numbers particularly around dusk and dawn
wear long, loose-fitting clothing