NSW Health is urging people to take extra precautions to protect themselves against mosquitoes following a seven-fold increase in detections of the mosquito-borne Ross River virus across the State compared with this time last year.
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North Coast Public Health Unit director Paul Corben said it’s the second time this year that NSW Health had issued a warning about mosquito-borne illnesses.
“Autumn is the peak time of the year for these insects to carry such infections so it is also when there is the highest number of mosquito-borne viral infections,” Mr Corben said.
“So far this year, there have been 539 notifications of Ross River virus infections across the State compared with just 79 for the same period in 2014.
“While all parts of the State have reported cases, residents of the North Coast have been particularly affected, with 319 notifications of Ross River virus compared to 19 for the same period last year.”
