AU: Ross River virus cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...t-follows-floods/story-e6frg8y6-1225817147384

Ross River virus threat follows floods

* Lanai Vasek
* From: The Australian
* January 07, 2010 12:00AM

AN outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus Ross River fever is highly likely in flood-ravaged towns of NSW's central west.

Health authorities have placed the towns of Coonamble, Bourke and Brewarrina on high alert, as mosquito numbers surge following significant rainfall in the past fortnight.

Greater Western Area Health Service medical officer Tony Brown said the chances of an outbreak were high, given that the summer months were the peak season for Ross River fever.

"Whenever you get stagnant pools of water as you do after a flood, there is always an increase in the prevalence of the virus," Dr Brown said.

Ross River fever is the most common mosquito-borne viral infection in Australia. Symptoms include joint pains, swelling, severe headache, fatigue, muscle pains and weakness.

But almost three-quarters of people infected with the virus, which has no specific treatment, display no symptoms.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: AU: Ross River virus cases

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/18/2823686.htm

Ross River virus cases drop in WA
Posted 9 hours 21 minutes ago

The Western Australia Department of Health puts a massive drop in reported cases of Ross River virus in WA down to better monitoring and low rainfall.

There were just more than 200 reported cases between July last year and January this year.

That is fewer than half the 500 cases reported during the same period the previous year.

A number of shires carried out early spraying last September because of outbreak fears.

Department of Health spokesman Mike Lyndsay says the drop is good news but people should not become complacent.

"Even though the incidents are right down compared with last year, with the long-term average we would never want to say there's absolutely no risk out there," Mr Lyndsay said.

"It's still important that people take sensible precautions to avoid exposure to biting mosquitos."