Home Japanese encephalitis virus awareness campaign: Communications toolkit for stakeholders

Japanese encephalitis virus awareness campaign: Communications toolkit for stakeholders

The Department of Health’s Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) awareness campaign aims to raise awareness of the presence and increased risk of JEV in Western Australia (WA), the availability of the JEV vaccine, and ways to avoid infection.

With recent JEV activity identified in northern WA, the risk to Kimberley and Pilbara residents has increased.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a rare but serious disease of the brain that is caused by JEV. JEV is spread to humans and other animals, such as waterbirds and pigs by infected mosquitoes. Water birds and pigs are important in the JEV transmission cycle as the virus multiplies within these animals and infects further biting mosquitoes. JEV cannot be transmitted (by contact) from person-to-person, from animal-to-person, nor transmitted by eating meat from an infected animal.

This campaign is unique to other mosquito-borne disease campaigns (including the overarching ‘Fight the Bite’ campaign) by the fact that a vaccine is available to those most at risk. This vaccine provides long-term protection from JEV.

JEV vaccination is now recommended and available for people who live in specific areas of the Kimberley and Pilbara.

These areas are considered to be at highest risk of JEV transmission in WA, either because JEV has been detected in these areas or nearby, or because there are habitats nearby that could support JEV spread (wetlands, large numbers of waterbirds or feral pigs and mosquitoes capable of transmitting JEV).

Eligibility is being expanded as more vaccine becomes available. For the latest list of eligible postcodes, visit: www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/JEV

In addition, it is recommended that everyone:

Cover up using long, loose-fitting clothing.
Regularly apply effective mosquito repellent when outside.
Remove, empty or cover water-holding containers to reduce mosquito breeding.
Cut their grass often and keep it short to stop mosquitoes sheltering around your house.

For more information, visit the Japanese encephalitis: Information for local government and industry page.