Mosquito-borne Virus Spreads From Pigs to Humans in Australia
- At least one person suffering from Japanese encephalitis
- First time disease detected in continent’s south: official
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A mosquito-borne disease that can cause brain inflammation has emerged in Australia and infected at least one person, prompting officials to issue health alerts for people working with pigs and horses.
The confirmed Japanese encephalitis case in Queensland state, along with three suspected human infections in Victoria, follows the detection of the virus earlier in the week across multiple pork farms. On Friday, the nation’s health department declared the situation a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.