After a flood or heavy rainfall, mosquitoes breed in the pools of stagnant water left behind. Mosquitoes can carry diseases and spread them by biting you.
Mosquitoes in our region have been known to carry a number of different viruses which cause disease, including:
Symptoms common to most diseases carried by mosquitoes are fever, rash, joint and muscle aches, headache and fatigue.
Japanese encephalitis virus and Murray Valley encephalitis virus can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain with symptoms of encephalitis such as severe headache, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, confusion, seizures, paralysis and coma. If you have any of these symptoms, you should seek urgent medical advice.
Most people who contract a mosquito-borne disease have few symptoms and recover completely. A small proportion of people become very unwell or have long-lasting effects. Infection with Japanese encephalitis virus and Murray Valley encephalitis virus can be fatal in rare cases.
The Better Health Channel has more information about protecting yourself from mosquito-borne diseases.
Most mosquito-borne diseases do not have available vaccines. This means the only available prevention measure is avoiding mosquito bites.
There is a vaccine against JEV. The vaccine is available in Victoria for eligible people at highest risk of infection. Supply of the vaccine is extremely limited, so avoiding mosquito bites remains the most important way to protect yourself from JEV. For more information, visit the Japanese encephalitis virus page.
Local governments and the Victorian Department of Health are working together on mosquito surveillance and control measures. Mosquito trapping in recent weeks shows that the number of potentially disease-carrying mosquitoes in the Loddon Mallee region is increasing.
The Victorian Department of Health monitors cases of mosquito-borne illness across the state, including in the Loddon Mallee region. Ross River virus is endemic to our region, and there have been multiple cases of Ross River virus this season. There have been no recorded cases of Japanese encephalitis virus in the Loddon Mallee region this season.
Bendigo Health and the Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit are working together with local governments and community organisations to provide JEV vaccines to eligible people in the Loddon Mallee region.
