Overview
- The Victorian Department of Health confirmed recent detections of Ross River virus in mosquito traps in Wellington and East Gippsland shires.
- Local councils have launched mosquito control operations, though increased breeding in warm conditions can be difficult to contain.
- Health advice includes wearing long, loose clothing, using repellents with DEET or picaridin, fitting intact screens and coils, and camping away from river and lake edges.
- The infection can cause fever, joint pain and swelling, muscle aches, fatigue or a rash, and there is no vaccine or specific treatment.
- People who develop symptoms consistent with Ross River virus are advised to seek guidance from their GP, with prevention emphasized as the best protection.