Latest news with #MurrayValleyEncephalitis

ABC News
24-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Station worker's 'remarkable' recovery from rare Murray Valley encephalitis
A young station worker who contracted a rare mosquito-borne virus while working in outback Queensland is making a remarkable recovery after a four-month battle for survival. Isaac Pearce spent 126 days in intensive care after becoming infected with Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) while working near Normanton, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, early this year. The 25-year-old walked out of the Townsville University Hospital ICU last week, and will continue his rehabilitation at Rockhampton Hospital. Mr Pearce is one of just three people in Queensland to be infected with the deadly disease in the past five years, Queensland health figures show. Mr Pearce's mother, Mel Jones, said her son had to learn to walk again. "His stomach stopped working, he couldn't swallow, and it's messed with his heart," she said. Mr Pearce was found unconscious after complaining of a headache while working at a cattle station. He was flown to Townsville Hospital on February 14 , with swelling and inflammation of the brain, and placed on life support. Mr Pearce thanked the medical staff who helped him pull through. "It was pretty rough and even though I was a bit mean sometimes, people still cared," he said. Townsville Hospital and Health Service ICU clinical director Siva Senthuran described the recovery as "remarkable". Infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist Professor Paul Griffin said MVE was one of a number of mosquito-borne viruses that could, in rare cares, cause inflammation of the brain. Professor Griffin said mortality rates could be up to 20 per cent, and noted experts were concerned about a rise in mosquito-borne diseases, as the climate changed. "There can be lasting consequences, including not returning to the same level of brain function afterwards or even not surviving that infection," he said. "It's a timely reminder to take steps to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes where we see activity of this virus." Dr Senthuran said while it would take months for Mr Pearce to recover, he was progressing faster than expected. Mr Pearce said his transfer to Rockhampton Hospital would mean he could continue his recovery closer to his home and family in Gladstone.

ABC News
10-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Widow of man killed by Murray Valley encephalitis warns of mosquito bite danger
When Sonia Blackaby set out caravanning with her husband across Western Australia's far north, she never thought a mosquito bite would make it their last trip together. Travelling from Tom Price, 1,450 kilometres north-east of Perth, to the Kimberley two years ago, her husband, Peter, contracted a rare mosquito-borne illness. "We returned home and, within a week of that, he started showing symptoms, which I thought at the beginning was a stroke," she said. Peter Blackaby had contracted Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), a rare but serious mosquito-borne disease that can cause brain inflammation, coma and death. There is no treatment or vaccine for it. Mr Blackaby was flown to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment, but his condition worsened in the following hours. "He went from showing signs [of life] to being in a coma, non-verbal, unresponsive, quadriplegic, and basically in a vegetative state," Ms Blackaby said. Ms Blackaby's story struck a chord with the West Australian government, which is now offering free insect repellent kits to community groups in areas deemed at high risk of a mosquito-borne illness. "So sporting clubs, caravan parks, other places in the community will always have insect repellent available," WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat said. "There were 12 cases of Murray Valley encephalitis reported since 2023, and five of those have resulted in deaths. "It is serious." Part of the reason Ms Blackaby is speaking out now is that she does not think the existing messaging about mosquito-borne illnesses is cutting through. For years, the government has backed a campaign called "Fight the Bite". But Ms Blackaby said most people she talked to had not heard of MVE. "I still travel with my caravan and I make it my public duty to talk to people and ask if they've heard of MVE," she said. "If I can stop one family from going through what my family went through, it's worth it." The initiative comes as Kimberley residents report increased mosquito activity following recent unseasonal rains. Mosquito traps detected MVE in the West Kimberley earlier this month. Broome resident Robyn Maher said the mosquitoes were "out in force". "On this morning's walk through Minyirr I had a black T-shirt on, and my husband said, 'Your whole back is covered in mosquitoes,'" she said. Ms Maher said free mosquito repellent was a "really good idea". "It's ridiculously expensive. Not everyone can afford food, let alone a can of Aerogard, so that's a really good initiative," she said. Ms Blackaby said everyone living in high-risk mosquito regions like the Pilbara and Kimberley should be applying insect repellent as part of their daily routine. "It just has to become ingrained a bit like 'slip, slop, slap' with sunscreen," she said. "It needs to become something that we're just aware of on the regular, not just a news article that pops up every now and again." The government said it was planning a statewide rollout of the initiative next year.