CANBERRA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Two people have died from Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) in Australia's Northern Territory (NT), health authorities said on Tuesday.
The deaths occurred in Alice Springs, a remote desert town in the NT, in April and May, the NT health department said. The cases follow the recent detection of the virus in mosquitoes in Darwin, capital of the NT.
MVE is a rare but potentially fatal virus transmitted by infected mosquitoes, with most cases recorded between March and May. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, muscle aches, drowsiness, confusion and seizures.
Authorities warned that high mosquito numbers across much of the NT, fueled by significant rainfall, have expanded the risk area to the entire region, with populations likely to persist in the north until late July but decline in central areas as colder temperatures set in.
The NT recorded eight MVE cases during a 2023 outbreak, including two deaths. Since surveillance began in 1978, a total of 48 cases have been reported, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. ■
