Daily London
Victorian travellers have been warned about rising cases of a mosquito-borne infection that can lead to severe symptoms lasting months.
There have been recent detections of the Ross River virus in Wellington and Gippsland in multiple mosquito traps in recent weeks.
With more visitors expected over the holidays and warmer weather leading to increased mosquito breeding, the Department of Health advised everyone to take precautions.
This includes wearing long and loose-fitting clothing, using mosquito repellent, screens and coils, camping away from the edge of rivers and lakes and limiting time outdoors when mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk.
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.
