Status: Active
Date issued: 4 November 2022
Issued by: Associate Professor Deborah Friedman, Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Disease)
Issued to: Health professionals, residents and visitors in north and north western Victoria.
Key messages
- Flooding and heavy rainfall have increased the risk of viruses transmitted by mosquitoes in Victoria this season.
- Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain.
- JE virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes.
- There have been no confirmed cases of JE and no detections of JE virus in mosquitoes this season.
- In Victoria, a JE vaccine is available free-of-charge for specific groups most at risk of exposure to JE virus.
- Eligibility criteria for JE vaccine have now been expanded to include more Victorians in northern Victoria where mosquitoes are prevalent.
- The simplest and best way to prevent JE virus infection and other mosquito-borne diseases is to avoid mosquito bites.
Read the full advisory: Japanese encephalitis vaccination update
