Australian health officials are warning people to protect themselves from mosquito bites after four people were hospitalised with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).
They say the virus is likely circulating in mosquito populations after an outbreak among several pig farms went undetected for weeks.
JEV is spread by mosquitoes from pigs or horses to humans, and these cases are the first to ever be detected in southeastern Australia.
Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp told 7 News the virus is affecting pig farms in Victoria’s north, New South Wales and Queensland.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Sonya Bennett told 7 News the disease can be fatal in rare cases.
"A very small proportion of people infected may develop a serious illness such as encephalitis and experience symptoms including neck stiffness, severe headache and coma, and more rarely, permanent neurological complications or death," she said.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms after visiting Australia’s southeast should seek urgent medical care, she said.
Two vaccines are available in Australia for protection against JEV, and officials recommend using repellent and covering up with clothing.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that no cases of JEV have been detected in New Zealand.
