Flooding and heavy rainfall have increased the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as Japanese encephalitis \u2013 but the Department of Health has provided some tips on how you can stay safe.<\/p>\n
Japanese encephalitis a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain caused by a virus that can be spread to humans through mosquito bites.<\/p>\n
Though the risk of contracting the disease is low, if you live or work in flood affected areas, you may be eligible for a vaccine.<\/p>\n
The simplest way to avoid contracting Japanese encephalitis is to avoid mosquito bites \u2013 this can be done by covering up with long, loose-fitting clothing, using mosquito repellents containing picardin or DEET on all exposed skin, and limiting outdoor activity.<\/p>\n
You should also remove stagnant water around your home, and use \u2018knockdown\u2019 fly spray, mosquito coils, or plug-in repellent where you gather outdoors.<\/p>\n
For more information on Japanese encephalitis and how to protect yourself against it, visit www.health.vic.gov.au\/health-advisories\/japanese-encephalitis-vaccination-update.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Flooding and heavy rainfall have increased the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as Japanese encephalitis \u2013 but the Department of Health has provided some tips on how you can stay safe. Japanese encephalitis a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain caused by a virus that can be spread to humans through mosquito bites. […]<\/p>\n