Healthdirect CMO provides health advice for Japanese encephalitis virus

Health advice regarding prevention, symptoms and when to seek medical help for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) (Opens in new tab) is available on the national health information and advice service, healthdirect.gov.au (Opens in new tab)

Dr Nirvana Luckraj, Chief Medical Officer Healthdirect Australia, says, “Mosquito bites, for the most part, don’t require medical care, but following the virus’ new prevalence in the wake of recent flooding and the heightened vigilance around JEV, it’s important that all Australians know the symptoms to look out for and when to seek medical advice.

“JEV spreads to human via infected mosquitoes. Most people with JEV — 99 per cent — won’t show symptoms. In those rare one per cent of cases of symptomatic JEV, it can lead to serious illness, including encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain.

”You may notice symptoms about 5 to 15 days after being bitten by a JEV-infected mosquito. If you’ve been bitten by a mozzie and are worried about your symptoms, you can use the healthdirect Symptom Checker (Opens in new tab) to know what you should do,” says Dr Luckraj.

If you are experiencing mild symptoms, Dr Luckraj recommends getting plenty of rest, drinking enough fluids, and taking paracetamol to relieve any fever.

Ways to avoid getting JEV

According to healthdirect, there are two key tactics to prevent Japanese encephalitis:

• Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, especially in areas where JEV is common.
• Receive a vaccine against JEV — although it’s important to note there are limited supplies of this vaccine and it is not freely provided and prioritised for those most at risk of exposure.

Here are some simple ways to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes:

• Reduce your skin exposure. Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, socks and enclosed footwear when outside.
• Use insect repellent. Choose products that contain diethyltoluamide (DEET), picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil — these are most effective against mosquitoes. Check the product label for information about reapplication times.
• Stay and sleep in rooms or tents that have flyscreens for open windows or mosquito nets.
• Do not leave water containers open. Mosquitoes use stagnant water to breed.