WA Health issues urgent warning to locals and travellers in the State’s North West over mosquito-borne disease

WA Health has issued an urgent warning to prevent mosquito bites in the State’s North West after a potentially deadly disease was detected.

The department is advising people to take precautions while travelling through the Kimberley, after mosquito-borne virus activity was identified in sentinel chickens.

Further testing is needed to identify the specific virus, but it is known that illnesses from the family of the virus detected can be severe and may even lead to death.

Symptoms include fever, drowsiness, headache, stiff neck, nausea and dizziness. Fever may be the only sign of early infection in children.

This alert comes after earlier warnings this year when Murray Valley encephalitis was detected in sentinel chickens and mosquitoes for the first time this year.

In March last year, a child from the West Kimberley died from MVE after heavy rains that likely created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes during the region’s devastating floods.

Department of Health managing scientist Andrew Jardine said while the risk of getting infected and becoming sick is low, the illnesses caused by these viruses can be severe in some cases and can even cause death.

“These viruses are spread by mosquitoes so protection against mosquito bites is the best defence,” Dr Jardine said.

“Whether you live locally or you are travelling to the region, consider some of the basic steps to protect yourself and your family against mosquito bites.”

Kimberley residents are encouraged to wear long, loose-fitting clothes and to avoid being outdoors at dawn and early evening without insect repellent when mosquitoes are most active.

For more information, visit HealthyWA.