March 16, 2022
Biosecurity Queensland is urging pig owners to be on the alert after Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) was confirmed at a second piggery in Queensland.
A spokesperson emphasised JEV is not a food safety concern and that commercially produced pork meat or pork products are safe to consume.
However, people need to be vigilant in protecting themselves and their animals from mosquito bites.
The virus commonly circulates in mosquitos and is transmitted to animals and people through mosquito bites.
It is not transmitted from animal to person, or person to person.
JEV has been detected so far in piggeries in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
As of Monday, there had been 18 confirmed human cases of JEV in Australia – seven in Victoria, six in NSW, four in South Australia and one in Queensland.
Two people are confirmed to have died of the disease.
External links:
- JEV Update from Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp
- For information related to animal health, visit Business Queensland – Japanese encephalitis
- For information related to public health, visit Queensland Health – Japanese encephalitis
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