Mosquito virus warnings

Pilbara residents are being urged to cover up to avoid mosquito bites after confirmed cases of Ross River Virus were identified in the Pilbara.

A number of cases of the virus were found in the Pilbara last year and the potentially fatal Murray Valley encephalitis was found in the Kimberley region.

Department of Health acting medical entomologist Peter Neville said as wet season continued, mosquitoes would probably start to breed and hatch in waterways.

“It is important that people start taking precautions now to avoid mosquito bites to ensure they don’t contract any mosquito-borne diseases,” he said.

Mr Neville said people could get Ross River and a few cases of the virus had already been seen this year. He said some of the symptoms of the virus were painful joints, aching muscles, lethargy, fever, headaches and rashes.

“Those symptoms can last for just a few days up to months,” he said.

Mr Neville said encephalitis was the more serious disease.

“People can experience fits, lapse into a coma, be left with brain damage or even die from Murray Valley,” he said.

People are urged to take precautions against mosquito bites by avoiding outdoor exposure during dawn and dusk, wearing protective clothing and applying personal repellent which contains DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) or picaridin.

Residents should also check screens to ensure they were intact, while parents should ensure children wore protective clothing.