UPDATE:
Queensland Health is working towards increasing the availability of the recommended JEV vaccination in the coming weeks after the JEV case originating in Yelarbon became active in the community last week, Friday January 17, 2025.
Goondiwindi Regional Council said there is currently a limited supply of the vaccination in Goondiwindi, Inglewood, and Texas but Queensland Health is working towards increasing availability over the coming week, and residents, particularly those in Yelarbon, are encouraged to contact their local pharmacy or medical centre for more information.
“When available later next week, the vaccine will be free to residents of the Goondiwindi region. However, a medical professional fee may be payable,” a spokesperson from the Goondiwindi Regional Council said.
“For 99% of the population who may be infected, they will not have any symptoms. However, as a precaution, community members should continue mosquito-safe behaviours such as wearing light colours, long sleeves, socks, and insect repellent when outdoors and utilising mosquito screens when indoors.
“Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, and staying indoors during this time can help avoid them.”
Council said, there is a plan to actively support Queensland Health in the coming weeks on the testing and monitoring of mosquitoes in the area. “The advice from Queensland Health is that there are no effective vector control measures e.g. fogging, due to the type of mosquito carrying JEV,” a spokesperson from the Goondiwindi Regional Council said.
The Queensland Health statement on Friday, 17 January 2025 regarding the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) case originating in Yelarbon:
A man has become the first confirmed human case of Japanese encephalitis in Queensland since 2022, with health care staff believing he contracted the mosquito-borne disease during a visit to the Goondiwindi region over Christmas.
Queensland Health confirmed the man’s infection on 17 January, with a spokesperson for the government arm explaining he was being treated at Townsville University Hospital.
Initial investigations by the State Government showed the man was likely bitten by an infected mosquito during a visit to Yelarbon, near the Queensland-New South Wales border in the Goondiwindi region, around Christmastime.
He is the first person to be officially diagnosed with locally-acquired Japanese encephalitis since May 2022, and is currently the only confirmed case in Queensland.
Japanese encephalitis is a virus similar to dengue fever and yellow fever. It is carried by pigs and wading birds, and can be spread to humans through mosquito bites.
Only around one per cent of infections produce symptoms after an incubation period of between five and 15 days.
In mild cases, the virus causes fevers and headaches, as well as abdominal pain and vomiting in children; severe infections can result in inflammation of the brain, convulsions, paralysis and coma.
Severe cases have a mortality rate of around 33 per cent, with a further one third of infections resulting in permanent disabilities.
The man currently being treated for Japanese encephalitis in Townsville is reported to be in a stable condition, according to Queensland Health.
The State Government has urged people living in the Goondiwindi area to get vaccinated for the mosquito-borne virus.
“[Japanese encephalitis] infection is preventable through vaccination and avoidance of mosquito bites,” said Darling Downs Health doctor Mikaela Seymour.
“Thankfully, many of our community members around Goondiwindi had already received the vaccine in 2022/23 and are therefore protected against this virus.”
Vaccination is recommended and available for free to ‘at-risk’ groups around Queensland including residents of the South and North Burnett regions, the latter of which recorded cases of the virus in animals back in April of 2022.
People working in or living near piggeries and pork abattoires are especially urged to get vaccinated for Japanese encephalitis, as are those who hunt feral pigs.
“We’re urging all remaining eligible members of the community to take this simple step to arm yourselves and your families against [Japanese encephalitis],” Dr Seymour said.
Queenslanders are meanwhile asked to be ‘mosquito-safe’ by wearing light colours, long sleeves and designated insect repellent when outdoors, and putting up mosquito screens when indoors.
To learn more about Japanese encephalitis and find out where to get vaccinated, visit qld.gov.au/health/condition/infections-and-parasites/viral-infections/japanese-encephalitis
