With summer temperatures fast approaching and water surrounding us, Western Plains locals are likely starting to feel the sting of mosquitoes as they settle in for the season.

Recent conditions have made the Western Plains a hotspot for mosquito activity, prompting health authorities to encourage the region to get their Japanese Encephalitis vaccination. 

NSW Health has widened the access of the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine to include LGAs across the Western Plains as part of 39 high risk locations in the west of the state. 

The arrival of the virus last summer saw 13 people in NSW diagnosed with JE, with two of those people sadly dying. 

Executive Director or Health Protection NSW Dr Jeremy McAnulty said while avoiding mosquito bites is the best protection against the virus, the JE vaccine will protect people who will be more vulnerable due to weather or work conditions. 

“I encourage those people at highest risk because they spend a lot of time outdoors ina affected areas to take advantage of the free access to the vaccine as soon as possible, particularly as it can take two weeks or more following the vaccination to develop a protective immune response to the virus,” Dr McAnulty said. 

The vaccine is available for people aged two months or older who live in the identified LGAs and who: 

• Spend significant time outdoors (four hours per day), for unavoidable work, recreation, education, or other essential activities
• Are living in temporary or flood damaged accommodation (e.g. camps, tents, dwellings exposed to the external environment) that place them at increased risk of exposure to mosquitoes
• Are engaged in the prolonged outdoor recovery efforts (clean up) of stagnant waters following floods 

NSW Health is continuing to identify priority areas for the vaccine as supply continues to be constrained in Australia. 

Despite placing orders for more vaccines, they aren’t due to arrive until the first part of 2023, in the midst of mosquito season. 

People living outside of those high risk LGAs are still recommended to get the vaccine if they work under vulnerable conditions. 

DPI Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Sarah Britton said that people can request the vaccine from the GP and get it ordered in. 

“Vaccination is also strongly recommended for people who live in any part of NSW and work, live at, or are visiting a piggery, including farm workers and their families, animal transport workers, vets and others involved in the care of pigs. This extends to pork abattoirs and pork rendering plants,” Dr Britton said. 

JE is a serious disease caused by the JE virus, however only around one per cent of people infected with the JE virus will experience symptoms. 

The virus is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes only, and humans cannot contract the virus through contact from infected people or animals, or consuming any animal product. 

Locals are still urged to prevent mosquito bites where possible to avoid other mosquito-borne diseases for which no vaccine exists. 

Protective measures include covering openings, removing items that might collect water (such as empty pots), improving property drainage, covering arms and legs outside, applying repellant to exposed skin and re-applying regularly.