There have been recent detections of Japanese encephalitis in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
In Victoria, a person was diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis, while in New South Wales the detection was made in feral pigs.
A Townsville resident who recently travelled to southern Queensland has also been diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis.
This is the first detection of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in a human in Queensland since 2023. There have been no detections in Queensland animals since 2022.
JEV is a zoonotic disease spread by mosquitoes that can cause reproductive issues in pigs and neurological signs in horses, such as lack of coordination, difficulty swallowing and impaired vision.
In rare cases, JEV can cause disease in humans.
Reducing exposure to infected mosquitoes is the key to avoiding JEV for yourself and your animals.
Japanese encephalitis is a notifiable disease in Queensland.
If you suspect an animal is showing signs of the disease, you must report it to either:
- your local veterinarian
- the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
Advice for pig owners
People working with pigs, including those who may have a small herd or pet, should take steps to control mosquitoes, as well as continue to use effective biosecurity measures. You can help protect your animals from JEV by including mosquito management in your biosecurity plan.
The most common clinical signs in pigs are abortions, mummified or malformed foetuses, and stillborn or weak piglets.
Pig owners are asked to be vigilant for signs of this disease and investigate unexplained abortions or stillbirths.
More information
- Japanese encephalitis in animals
- Japanese encephalitis information for pig owners
- Japanese encephalitis information for horse owners
- Japanese encephalitis information for veterinarians
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Last updated: 10 Feb 2025