HEALTH authorities have renewed warnings for locals to take extra precautions and protect themselves against mosquitoes following the detection of the Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) in the region.
The MVE virus has been detected in sentinel chickens located near Leeton, Hay and Moama, NSW Health said last week.
Sentinel chicken flocks act as a warning system for human infection by being regularly monitored for viruses that mosquitoes can transmit to people and cause illness.
NSW Health director of health protection, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, said that the latest detections should serve as an important reminder for people to protect themselves.
“Positive MVE findings in chickens are relatively rare in NSW the important message is to avoid mosquito bites and be alert to any Symptoms,” Dr McAnulty said.
“While MVE is relatively rare and most people will not develop symptoms, it is a serious mosquito-borne disease.”
In mild cases symptoms of MVE include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.
In more severe cases, symptoms can include neck stiffness, lethargy, drowsiness, confusion, delirium, tremors, neurological problems and coma in severe cases.
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