Monitoring continues for Japanese encephalitis

Agriculture Victoria has confirmed positive detections of Japanese encephalitis virus at four new Victorian piggeries.
These detections are in the Campaspe Shire, the Loddon Shire, Gannawarra and Northern Grampians Shire.
This is in addition to the previous detections in Loddon, Campaspe, Wangaratta, Gannawarra, Greater Shepparton and Greater Bendigo.
Japanese encephalitis virus has also been confirmed in piggeries in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.
Agriculture Victoria’s incident management team continues to work closely with industry, conducting surveillance activities and providing advice and information to farmers, livestock and horse owners.
The virus is primarily spread by mosquitoes feeding on infected animals and does not usually spread directly from animal to animal (i.e. it is not considered contagious).
Infection is not spread directly from pigs to people, and there is no risk to humans from eating pig meat.
In general, spread is through the movement of migratory water birds and through the movement of infected mosquitoes, often over long distances.
For more information visit the Agriculture Victoria website.
Victorians are being reminded to protect themselves from mosquito bites particularly when we are spending time outdoors.
For more information see your GP or phone NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 606 024, or go to www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/japanese-encephalitis
– Agriculture Victoria

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