The Communicable Disease Control Directorate reported that flavivirus activity has been recently detected through the sentinel chicken surveillance program in the East and West Kimberley regions of Western Australia (WA).
This is unusual for this time of year and indicates an earlier start to the flavivirus season and GPs are advised by WA Department of Health:
- Ask about exposure and travel history in patients with clinically compatible symptoms of encephalitis, and consider testing for flaviviruses, including Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus and Kunjin virus.
- Urgently notify flavivirus cases to Public Health.