Japanese encephalitis found on Cape York

The severe brain infection Japanese encephalitis has again been detected on the Australian mainland.

The severe brain infection Japanese encephalitis has again been detected on the Australian mainland.The mosquito-borne virus has been found in pigs on Queensland’s Cape York.Domestic pigs are prime incubators for the virus and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service detected it in sentinel pigs at Bamaga, near the cape’s northern tip, late last week.Japanese encephalitis is routinely found in remote areas of Torres Strait but it is only the second time it has spread to the Australian mainland.The Tropical Public Health Unit says there have been no human infections, but residents north of Cooktown and Normanton need to protect themselves from mosquitoes.Dr Jeffrey Hanna is also urging cape communities to move domestic pigs away from populated areas.”Because having those pigs close by to human residence means that mosquitoes don’t have to fly far from an infected pig to a susceptible person,” he said.Symptoms of the virus include high fever, delirium, and convulsions and there is no treatment.