Australia invests $69 million for Japanese encephalitis virus response

The program initiatives aim to prevent exposure to the disease through vaccination and mosquito management systems, to protect people and animals most at risk during the current outbreak.

Key elements of the control package include:

• the purchase of additional JEV vaccines
• supporting mosquito surveillance and control activities
• public health communication
• essential supplies to ensure sustained laboratory capacity and capability to test for JEV in humans
• support for enhanced surveillance activities

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said there were currently 15 confirmed human cases of JEV in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia and Deputy Leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, said mosquito trapping and control is being conducted at all infected piggeries, with movement restrictions in place for properties in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

People with direct exposure or close-proximity to pigs and mosquitos, will be prioritized for vaccination and those with high-level occupational exposures in the risk areas.