Australia -2017 Ross River virus

[Gert van der Hoek]

Ross River virus spike prompts mosquito warning across NSW Riverina

Fri , jan 6 2017

New South Wales Health authorities renew warnings for residents and holiday makers in the state's Riverina region to protect themselves against mosquitoes after a fivefold increase in the number of Ross River virus infections compared to the average in previous years.

NSW Public Health Director Tracey Oakman said there were 34 cases of the virus in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District in December, five times the average for this time of year.

"The highest number of notifications have been in the 45- to 65-year-old age group and then the next age group most commonly notified is the 25- to 44-year-old age group," she said.

The city of Griffith has been flagged as a hotspot for the virus, with seven cases reported in the region last month.
Ms Oakman also said a number of holiday makers in the Riverina who contracted the disease were unlikely to have been picked up in the latest figures.

"If we've got holiday makers that have been bitten and gone home, they'll be recorded as having the virus from the postcode that they're living in," she said.

Ms Oakman said the numbers were concerning and she urged people to be vigilant, use quality mosquito repellents and wear long clothing.

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/n...52858b74f3692c

Warning over Ross River virus outbreak across Victoria
Bridie Byrne, Leader
February 8, 2017 8:00am

VICTORIA is experiencing the worst outbreak of Ross River virus seen in at least a decade.

Department of Health and Human Services data shows the 654 cases diagnosed from January 1-30 this year is more than 20 times higher than the last outbreak in 2011.

In the equivalent January period there were 32 notifications in 2011 with 1330 cases for the year.

The average number of Ross River virus cases each year is 252...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/nat...dcfcb0dbb9a2ff

Ross River fever outbreak hits Geelong, Surf Coast region
Harrison Tippet, Geelong Advertiser
February 14, 2017 5:24pm

A DEBILITATING mosquito-borne virus outbreak has hit Geelong and the Surf Coast.

In the first six weeks of 2017 there have been more confirmed cases of Ross River virus than the previous two years combined, Department of Health statistics show.

There were 46 cases of the virus in the Barwon South West Region from January 1 to February 12, more than 15 times the amount in the same period last year (3).

In one week, the region tallied more confirmed cases of the virus (17) than it did through the whole of 2016 (16).

Victoria?s Chief Health Officer Professor Charles Guest said he was concerned by the number of Ross River virus infections...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ro...17-guf7bg.html


February 17 2017 - 2:03PM
Ross River virus: 150 more victims in Victoria as outbreak tally tops 1000
Rania Spooner

An outbreak of the potentially debilitating Ross River virus in Victoria has continued to worsen, with authorities warning that another 155 people have been infected

Last week the state's chief health officer issued a warning about unusually high numbers of infections, noting that there had been 857 recorded case since January 1...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.bay939.com.au/news/local-...tbreak-worsens

Ross River outbreak worsens
Rebecca McDonald / 24 February 2017

More Ross River cases have turned up across Geelong and the Surf Coast. Record numbers are being reported this year, with almost 120 cases detected in the Barwon South West region since the start of January.

10 fresh cases have turned up in Geelong, and a further 18 on the Surf Coast, in the last week alone. Other hotspots include the Loddon Mallee area with 276 cases this year, and the City of Hume in Melbourne's north with almost 400 cases...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/...osquito-virus/

Ross River virus cases surging in central Victoria
Natalie Croxon
24 Feb 2017, 4 p.m.

...More people are suffering similar experiences, with Victoria seeing a surge in the number of Ross River virus cases.

Health Department figures show that in the seven weeks to February 20, there were 276 suspected or confirmed cases of Ross River virus detected in the Loddon Mallee region.

Thirty-eight of these cases arose in the week to February 20 alone.

The City of Greater Bendigo has seen 40 potential cases of Ross River virus this year, while across Victoria there have been 1243...

[Pathfinder]

Ross River fever virus found in mosquitoes trapped at Georges River

James Taylor, Canterbury-Bankstown Express
March 20, 2017 9:46pm

MOSQUITOES along the Georges River have been found carrying an untreatable virus.

Health authorities detected the Ross River fever virus three times in saltmarsh mosquito traps around Picnic Point and Illawong last week.

South Western Sydney Local Health District public health director Professor Mark Ferson said residents need to protect themselves from potentially infected bloodsuckers.
...
He pointed to figures showing Ross River virus infection notifications in NSW residents had increased by about 100, up from 54 in December 2015. Notifications in January this year were 108 compared to 42 in 2016.

?Make no mistake, we are the middle of a Ross River surge in NSW,? he said.
...

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-express/ross-river-fever-virus-found-in-mosquitoes-trapped-at-georges-river/news-story/49d3aa85d651b9c7bba7ec927de000fe?nk=8c6f8955747251302bd2769eaa7362f2-1490109057

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.begadistrictnews.com.au/s...break/?cs=4058

The Sydney suburbs hit hardest by surging Ross River Virus outbreak
Harriet Alexander
16 Feb 2017, 3:03 p.m.

Scientists believe NSW may be coming to the end of the biggest season for Ross River Virus in living memory, after inland flooding in spring created the perfect breeding conditions for mosquitoes that carry the disease.

More than five times as many people contracted the virus in December and January than did over the same period last year, with 560 notifications compared to 96 last year. In the first six weeks of this year alone 430 people have been affected.

The virus causes fever, headaches, chills and stiffness in the muscles in joints, and though it usually resolves within 10 days some patients experience symptoms for months...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com...ocals/3203095/

Ross River Virus outbreak: 117 locals diagnosed
Sherele Moody | 22nd Jul 2017 5:00 AM

MOSQUITOES have infected 140 locals with diseases this year.

NewsRegional analysis of Queensland health data shows 117 people living in the Wide Bay health district were diagnosed with Ross River virus in the past seven months.

Last year, 112 locals contracted the disease.

There is also one case of malaria, seven of dengue fever and 15 cases of the Barmah Forest virus, all of which are spread by mosquitoes.

The Wide Bay health region covers the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg.

Across Queensland, there have been 1830 mozzie-borne virus infections reported in the past seven months, compared to 2462 for the whole of 2016...

[Ronan Kelly]

South Australia
Ross River virus
Two cases of Ross River virus infection were notified this week in two females. There have been
497 cases of Ross River virus infection notified year-to-date, compared with 51 cases reported for the
same period last year. A change in laboratory testing procedures has contributed to this increase.
Data correct as of 19 July 2017 and subject to change.

http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/4ad1b78042ec93288ffcbf9d0fd82883/Item+6_Weekly+Epidemiological+Summary+170720.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=4ad1b78042ec93288ffcbf9d0fd82883

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news...eases/3203230/

Virus Outbreak: 100 locals infected by mosquitoes
Sherele Moody | 24th Jul 2017 6:17 AM

MOSQUITOES have infected 92 Darling Downs health district residents with diseases this year.

NewsRegional analysis of Queensland health data shows 82 people living in Toowoomba and Warwick region were diagnosed with Ross River virus in the past seven months.

This is equivalent to the total number of infections last year.

There are also two cases of malaria, three of dengue fever, four cases of the Barmah Forest virus and one of chikungunya, all of which mosquitoes spread.

The Darling Downs health region covers Toowoomba and Warwick.

Across Queensland, there have been 1830 mozzie-borne virus infections reported in the past seven months, compared to 2462 for the whole of 2016...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.stawelltimes.com.au/story...-spike/?cs=356


December 29 2017 - 4:27PM
Wimmera mosquito warning after Ross River virus spike
Erin Witmitz Anthony Piovesan


ROSS River virus rates skyrocketed in the Wimmera in 2017, with health leaders warning residents to protect themselves from the mosquito-transmitted disease this summer.

Department of Health statistics show that in the Grampians region, there were 235 cases of Ross River last year.

This is up from 18 cases in 2016, 39 in 2015 and 20 in 2014.

Females contracted the virus more than men, with 121 cases in women and 114 cases in men.

The number of Ross River cases were also more than any other mosquito-borne disease sin the region, with seven cases of dengue fever and two cases of Barmah Forest virus diagnosed in the Grampians region...