AU: 2015 Ross River virus/Barmah Forrest virus

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/act...mosquito-awareness-alert-20150124-12vzto.html

Ross River Virus cases up this summer prompting mosquito awareness alert
January 24, 2015 - 10:30PM
Matthew Raggatt

Three new Ross River virus diagnoses have been made in the capital this summer, prompting calls for Canberrans to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

ACT Health figures show this summer has already brought more cases than in each of the past two years, however it is unclear where the infections occurred.

"Of the three cases of Ross River virus diagnosed, all three reported interstate travel during the incubation period and it is possible it was acquired interstate," a Health spokeswoman said.

There were five cases for 2014 as a whole, an average year, with three of those acquired interstate.

Ross River infections in NSW have doubled from last year - 322 diagnoses were made since September.

There was one case of Barmah Forest Virus -- also commonly passed by mosquitoes -- in the ACT last year, but no new cases this summer...

 

[Pathfinder]

Ross River fever alert

Joel Gould | 27th Feb 2015 5:00 AM

A MASSIVE spike in Ross River Fever cases is the legacy of recent heavy rain with 60 Ipswich residents diagnosed with the debilitating illness in the past month.
...
Cr Antoniolli, the council's health spokesman, said the spike in the infection rate of the illness was a common theme across south-east Queensland, but that Ipswich had seen a strong surge in cases.

"In Ipswich we traditionally only get single figure presentations of Ross River Fever in our city and generally speaking a good half of those are people who have been up in North Queensland and have brought it back down with them," he told the QT.

"But this is a large spike for us in Ipswich."
...

http://www.qt.com.au/news/ross-river-fever-alert/2557707/

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/councils-vector-control-staff-set-special-traps-fo/2558002/


Traps check on mozzies as Ross River Fever spreads
Helen Spelitis | 27th Feb 2015 7:18 AM

TRAPS to catch and identify disease-carrying mosquitoes have been set up around Gladstone and surrounding towns.

They are being used to monitor whether a particular species of mosquito - the Aedes aegypti, which carries dengue fever - is in the area.

Gladstone Regional Council environment portfolio spokesman Col Chapman said although none of the species had been found recently, the council was vigilant.

"Council's vector control staff also work in conjunction with Queensland Health to undertake surveys in areas where Aedes aegypti mosquito had been previously found," he said.

Meanwhile, 1014 cases of Ross River Fever have been reported to Queensland Health so far this year, across the state.

That's compared to just 193 for the same period last year...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.coolum-news.com.au/news/ross-river-virus-outbreak/2563753/


Ross River virus outbreak
Kathy Sundstrom
Kathy Sundstrom | 6th Mar 2015 8:05 AM

THE Sunshine Coast is in the grip of the worst Ross River virus outbreak in years.

Figures provided by Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service public health physician Dr Rod Davison show there has been four times the number of cases in the past month than over the same period in the last four years.

Dr Davison has urged residents to "mozzie-proof" themselves and their homes.

"The region has received significant rainfall over the past few weeks, and these rains have coincided with high tides, which make the region a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes," he said.

"This is even more important now with the high number of Ross River virus cases being diagnosed.

"As of last week, the number of cases of the virus notified as confirmed in the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service area so far this year is 85.

"This is almost four times the average number of cases reported in this period over the past four years (22)." ..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/mackays-lack-of-rain-could-have-one-positive-outco/2571898/


Ross River virus reduced thanks to lack of rain
Kirsty Mugridge | 12th Mar 2015 8:26 AM

MACKAY'S dry summer has a silver lining.

Since January, 143 cases of Ross River fever have been recorded in the Townsville Public Health Service district, which includes Mackay...

... Statewide there have been 2050 cases recorded since January - 799 between February 7 and 20.

Notifications in Queensland make up 74% of the notifications for the last recorded fortnight in Australia.

According to the Department of Health, in the last recorded fortnight there were 1073 notifications compared with 542 in the previous fortnight.

There have been 6749 notifications of the virus in the past year.

Ross River virus infections peak between January and April...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.9news.com.au/health/2015/03/12/14/26/ross-river-outbreak-fears-become-reality



2:22pm March 12, 2015
Ross River outbreak fears become reality
AAP

The nightmare of a Ross River epidemic on the Gold Coast is becoming a reality, with the number of cases so far this year 27 times the four-year average.

The latest Gold Coast Health figures show there have been 242 confirmed cases of the debilitating fever between January 1 and March 1.

That's compared to the nine or so averaged in the same period between 2010 and 2014.

Across Queensland, 2050 people have already been struck down by the mosquito-borne illness this year, again far outnumbering the 2010-14 average of just 282 cases.

The figures appears to confirm infectious disease specialists' fears of an outbreak of the illness across the state...

 

[Pathfinder]

NSW says protect against mosquitoes after huge jump in Ross River detection

18 March 2015

​NSW Health is urging people to take extra precautions to protect themselves against mosquitoes following a seven fold increase in detections of the mosquito-borne virus Ross River Fever across the State compared with this time last year.
Director of Communicable Diseases Dr Vicky Sheppeard said it?s the second time this year that NSW Health has issued a warning about mosquito-borne illnesses.

?Autumn is the peak time of the year for these insects to carry such infections so it is also when there is the highest number of mosquito-borne viral infections,? she said.

?So far this year, NSW Health has seen an increase in reporting of people infected by mosquito-borne viruses.

?There have been 539 notifications of Ross River virus infections across the State compared with just 79 for the same period in 2014.

?While all parts of the State have reported cases, residents of the North Coast of NSW have been particularly affected.

?NSW Health?s Arbovirus Monitoring Program has recently detected Ross River Virus and Barmah Forest Virus in mosquitoes in Sydney, including around the Georges River, the Homebush and Hawkesbury areas, as well as a number of other parts of the State.

?These infections can cause symptoms including tiredness, rash, fever, and sore and swollen joints. The symptoms usually resolve after several days, but some people may experience these symptoms for weeks or even months.

?There is no specific treatment for these viruses. The best way to avoid infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

?Our mosquito surveillance has found increasing numbers of mosquitoes in many parts of the State. Even more are predicted as a result of high tides together with the recent heavy rains in parts of NSW.?

Dr Sheppeard said the next few weeks ? when many people will be spending the Easter break outdoors ? will be ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes carrying these viruses.

?It is possible that these mosquitoes will be carrying the even more serious viruses
such as Kunjin and Murray Valley Encephalitis,? she said.

?It is particularly important for people planning to take trips during the Easter holidays
to be prepared with measures to prevent mosquito bites.?

Simple steps to avoid mosquito bites include:

? Avoid being outside unprotected, particularly during dawn and dusk, when
mosquitoes are most active. When outside cover up as much as possible with
light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and covered footwear.
? Apply mosquito repellent regularly to exposed areas (as directed on the
container). Repellents containing Diethyl Toluamide (DEET) or Picaridin are
best.
? Don?t use repellents on the skin of children under the age of three months.
Instead use physical barriers such as netting on prams, cots and play areas
for babies.
? When camping, use flyscreens, or sleep under mosquito nets.
? Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by
getting rid of items that hold water or by emptying the containers.

For copies of the NSW Health fact sheet on Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus,
Kunjin virus, and Murray Valley Encephalitis virus go to:

NSW Health Factsheet - Ross River Fever

NSW Health Factsheet - Barmah Forest virus

NSW Health Factsheet - Kunjin virus

NSW Health Factsheet - Murray Valley Encephalitis.

NSW Health routinely issues health alerts to inform the public on potential concerns
regarding health and well-being which are available on the NSW Health website.



Page Updated: Wednesday 18 March 2015

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20150318_00.aspx

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/national/heal...global-temperatures-rise-20160428-goh6sn.html


The Sydney Morning Herald
Ross River virus and dengue fever increasing as global temperatures rise
April 28, 2016 - 6:31PM
There were a record number of Ross River virus notifications in 2015.


A record number of people were infected with Ross River virus last year in what doctors believe may be a consequence of global warming.

There were 9549 cases of Ross River fever notified in 2015 - more than double the previous year - and 21 per cent of them were from NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT.

The number of dengue fever notifications has also trended upwards over the past two decades, peaking at 1842 notifications in 2013, the federal Health Department says...