Ross River Fever Outbreak Suspected In NSW Riverina Region; Health Authorities Issue Mosquito Warning

Health authorities in the Riverina region issued a health warning for people in lieu of the fivefold increase in the number of Ross River fever incidents reported this year. New South Wales Health authorities recommended people to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes to avoid Ross River fever.

Tracey Oakman, Director at NSW Public Health Organization, informed that December 2016 recorded 34 cases of the viral infection in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, which was about five times the average number of cases recorded in the same time in previous years, Shepparton News reported.

It was also said that people holidaying in the region have also contracted the disease during their stay and some others were diagnosed after they went back home and were not included in the latest figures.

"If we've got holiday makers that have been bitten and gone home, they'll be recorded as having the virus from the postcode that they're living in," Tracey Oakman informed. "The highest number of notifications have been in the 45- to 65-year-old age group and then the next age group most commonly notified is the 25- to 44-year-old age group," she added.

Health officials declared that the city of Griffith has been the epicenter of the viral outbreak. The city recorded seven more cases in the region in the last month alone.

The Ross River Fever outbreaks are directly related to the mosquito population in the local area, which is known to increase considerably after rainfall. However, health officials are baffled as the mosquitoes continue to flourish even months after the rainfall season, ABC News reported.

"That's really concerning because we don't normally see such a high level of Ross River virus in December. We normally get higher cases in February, March and April, the tail end of summer. Seeing them this early is a real concern," Tracey Oakman said.

She also said that the latest numbers are concerning and extreme caution is recommended to the people residing in the area. People are also advised to use non-poisonous mosquito repellents and to dress in loosely fitting long clothing to avoid mosquito bites and Ross River fever.