Mosquito Bite Causes Murray Valley Encephalitis Death

(CTN News) – The Northern Territory has reported the death of a young child who contracted the mosquito-borne disease Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), which is transmitted by mosquitoes.

Despite being diagnosed with the virus on Saturday, the child, who has not been identified, died in hospital after being diagnosed with the illness.

Sadly, this is the second fatality linked to MVE in the NT this year, following the death of a 70-year-old woman in February, who was infected with the virus.

In the course of its existence, MVE is a fairly rare, but potentially deadly disease that is spread by mosquitoes to humans.

There is a high risk for the virus to spread in rural and remote areas of Australia, with the Northern Territory being one of the highest-risk areas of Australia.

It has been recommended that residents and visitors to the NT take precautions to prevent themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes as soon as possible by the NT Department of Health.

Just a month ago, a child from Western Australia passed away as a result of MVE and this tragic death comes barely a month later.

The WA Health Department has issued a warning to residents living in the northern area of the state following the Kimberley floods, which has been identified as a risk hotspot after the floods in the area.

A mosquito in Menindee, in the far west of the state, has been found carrying Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) following heavy rain in January, according to NSW Health.

When it comes to taking precautions, long sleeves and pants should be worn when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk, and a strong insect repellent should be applied. Besides covering up mosquito breeding grounds, such as water-filled containers, the health authority also recommends sleeping under a mosquito net or covering up water-filled containers.

There are a number of symptoms that may accompany MVE, including severe headaches, high fever, drowsiness, seizures, and tremors.

The following symptoms should be taken very seriously and you should seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of them.

A specific treatment for MVE is not available, but supportive care can be provided in order to help manage the symptoms of this condition.

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