Ross River virus and toxic blue-green algae detected in regional Victoria and NSW

dorian · Guru

Ross River virus and toxic blue-green algae detected in regional Victoria and NSW

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

I thought Ross River fever was a tropical disease. It's certainly prevalent in north Queensland where my sister lives. Maybe the tropics are moving south with climate change?

Craig1 · Guru

Been along the Murray for many years, you dont want to catch it either, can be debilitating

Mike Harding · Guru

Buzz Lightbulb wrote:
I thought Ross River fever was a tropical disease. It's certainly prevalent in north Queensland where my sister lives. Maybe the tropics are moving south with climate change?

Yeah... I lost a sock in the washing machine recently... I put it down to climate change.

bomurra · Veteran Member

Ross River Virus has been prevalent in Southern Western Australia for 20 years plus. Principally it is carried by mosquitos that breed in saline water conditions, but there are other species that can carry it.

Wost effected areas of WA are of course the tropics Kimberely etc, sub tropics Exmouth, Carnarvon region and coastal regions of WA, right down the coast to Augusta'

My grandson (Exmouth resident) caught it earlier this year. Quite debilitating for an extremely fit young diver and fisherman. Several members of my caravan club have also suffered in recent years, most recently being infected at Busselton.

Best advice is, if you are out and about in WA, cover up and avoid the bite.

-- Edited by bomurra on Monday 27th of December 2021 08:22:34 PM

bomurra · Veteran Member

Mike Harding wrote:
Buzz Lightbulb wrote:
I thought Ross River fever was a tropical disease. It's certainly prevalent in north Queensland where my sister lives. Maybe the tropics are moving south with climate change?
Yeah... I lost a sock in the washing machine recently... I put it down to climate change.

Hey Mike, The sock is not lost, you know where it is.

Mike Harding · Guru

bomurra wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
Buzz Lightbulb wrote:
I thought Ross River fever was a tropical disease. It's certainly prevalent in north Queensland where my sister lives. Maybe the tropics are moving south with climate change?
Yeah... I lost a sock in the washing machine recently... I put it down to climate change.
Hey Mike, The sock is not lost, you know where it is.

I thought I did but now I think there is something afoot going on....

Possum3 · Guru

There were several cases of the disease in Yerranderie NSW (Ghost Town) in 1994 - During the bush fires when all Emergency Services were down there fighting fires.

markf · Senior Member

Craig1 wrote:
Been along the Murray for many years, you dont want to catch it either, can be debilitating

It is debilitating ! I picked up a dose in the Hattah Kulkyne Nat Park (near Ouyen in VIC) in the early '80's and it really knocked me around to the extent I couldn't work for about 18 months.

Lesson learned. Use plenty of repellent and cover up. Avoid mozzie bites at all costs.

bomurra · Veteran Member

Mike Harding wrote:
bomurra wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
Buzz Lightbulb wrote:
I thought Ross River fever was a tropical disease. It's certainly prevalent in north Queensland where my sister lives. Maybe the tropics are moving south with climate change?
Yeah... I lost a sock in the washing machine recently... I put it down to climate change.
Hey Mike, The sock is not lost, you know where it is.
I thought I did but now I think there is something afoot going on....

Might be time then for you to put your foot down, to make sure you are not de feeted.

Wizardofoz · Guru

Not a bad comedy team you 2...a replacement for the '2 Ronnies'. biggrin

-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Thursday 30th of December 2021 07:34:08 AM

Craig1 · Guru

heckle and jeckle?

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Before it was called Ross River Virus in the southern states, any doctors referred to it as Murray River Encephalitis.

It was a mosquito carried disease that could be contracted in and around areas of the Murray, Murrumbidgee, and from irrigation procedures in some areas.

I know a mate of mine who caught what was described as Ross River Virus by a doctor while he was working in Elliston in SA
Apparently Elliston has a swamp area in the middle of town which is home for mosquitoes.

Mosquito carried encephalitis can have a few other names as well but doctors determine the infection from blood tests apparently.
At least that is what my mate indicated to me. No matter what it was called locally, it can be a debilitating disease with serious affects on a person over several months.
My mate says that even today his joints are still sore and painful at times.

Inland_Sailor · Veteran Member

markf wrote:
Craig1 wrote:
Been along the Murray for many years, you dont want to catch it either, can be debilitating
It is debilitating ! I picked up a dose in the Hattah Kulkyne Nat Park (near Ouyen in VIC) in the early '80's and it really knocked me around to the extent I couldn't work for about 18 months.
Lesson learned. Use plenty of repellent and cover up. Avoid mozzie bites at all costs.

Agree regarding the after effects of RRV. I still get short bouts from my dose 6 yers ago. But in my case it wasn't mozzie bites but rather March flies. They too draw blood from native animals, the carriers of RRV, and of course can give us a good bite as well!

[I've believe long covid has similar symptoms/effect to RRV]

-- Edited by Inland_Sailor on Thursday 30th of December 2021 05:33:28 PM