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Travelers in Victoria have been cautioned about an uptick in cases of a mosquito-borne illness known for causing severe, long-lasting symptoms.
Recently, the Ross River virus has been detected in several mosquito traps across Wellington and Gippsland.
As the holiday season approaches and warmer weather encourages mosquito proliferation, the Department of Health has urged everyone to take preventive measures.
Suggested precautions include wearing long, loose clothing, applying mosquito repellent, using screens and coils, setting up campsites away from riverbanks and lakesides, and minimizing outdoor activities during peak mosquito times at dawn and dusk.
Local councils are actively conducting mosquito control operations on public lands, although managing mosquito populations remains challenging.
Local councils are implementing mosquito control operations on their land, but mosquito levels can be hard to manage.
Ross River virus is common in Australia and particularly rampant in inland waterways and coastal regions.
It is caused by an alphavirus and is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Symptoms include fever, joint pain and swelling, muscle aches, fatigue or rash and can occur within days, weeks or months from the time of infection.
There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Ross River virus.
The Department of Health said preventing mosquito bites is the most effective way to reduce the risk of infection, and anyone who develops symptoms should seek advice from their GP.
Epidemics of the virus can occur but are related to the environment and whether it encourages mosquito breeding, including heavy rainfall, floods, high tides and moderate temperatures.
