Latest update: All staff working on stud farms in areas affected by the floods are now eligible to be vaccinated against Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV).
While there are currently no confirmed cases of JEV in Victoria, the recent flooding and heavy rainfall can mean a greater risk of infections spread by mosquitoes.
Vaccination against JEV is now available for anyone aged two months or older who:
Lives, or routinely works, in a high-risk area and spends significant time outdoors (four hours per day), for unavoidable work, recreational, educational or other essential activities, or
Is living in temporary or flood-damaged accommodation that places them at an increased risk of exposure to mosquitoes, or
Is engaged in the prolonged clean-up of stagnant waters following floods.
The vaccine is free for people who meet these criteria and is available from local councils and local public health units, including some COVID-19 vaccination hubs. Select GPs and community pharmacies can also provide the vaccine itself for free, but may charge a fee for the administration.
People living in areas experiencing mosquito activity should undertake these protective measures now and over the coming months to protect themselves against not just JEV, but other mosquito-borne diseases for which no vaccine is available – including Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Murray Valley encephalitis.
For further information, please visit the Victorian Department of Health website here.