NEW South Wales Health is expanding free access to the Japanese encephalitis vaccine for Wentworth residents to protect those most at risk after a confirmed case in the region.
A new seroprevalence survey by NSW Health found that one in 11 people who took part showed evidence of previous infection.
The JE vaccine has now been recommended for people who live or work in the Wentworth Local Government Area, are aged 50 years or older and spend significant time outdoors.
JE vaccine is available through local general practitioners, while people who meet the criteria should make an appointment with their GP and let them know it is for the Japanese encephalitis vaccine.
GPs may require a few days’ notice so they can order the vaccine.
NSW Public Health Far West and Western director Priscilla Stanley extended her thanks to the more than 1000 participants who provided blood samples in the survey from areas selected on the basis of JE virus activity.
One in 11 people showed antibodies indicating past infection with JE virus that would not have been acquired in another country.
To date, 13 people in NSW have been clinically diagnosed with JE in NSW this year and two of those people have died.
All were estimated to have acquired the virus between mid-January and the end of February 2022.
“The results of this serosurvey provide us with valuable insight into the prevalence of past JE infections in these communities after it was first detected earlier this year,” Ms Stanley said.
“Vaccination is an important part of the public health response, but currently, global supply of JE vaccine is very limited.
"So we are urging people to protect themselves by avoiding mosquito bites altogether, particularly as we head into warmer months.”
JE is a serious disease caused by the JE virus, however only about 1 per cent of people infected with the JE virus will experience symptoms.
JE is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes, however people are not able to pass the virus to other people.
Humans also cannot get infected with the virus by touching an infected animal or eating animal products, including pork products.
Australian mosquitoes can carry a range of viruses for which there are no vaccines, so it is vital to avoid mosquito bites.
Residents have been urged to protect themselves and their family by covering openings such as windows and doors with insect screens and checking there are no have gaps in them; removing items that might collect water such as old tyres, empty pots where mosquitoes can breed; improve drainage so that water does not become stagnant; wear light, loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts, long pants and covered footwear and socks, especially around dusk and dawn; and apply repellent to all areas of exposed skin.
In line with national reporting structures, NSW Health reports any new cases and case locations on the NSW Health website.
According to the CDNA criteria, asymptomatic people found to have JE antibodies through serosurvey studies do not meet the case definition for JE disease, unlike those who were clinically diagnosed.