Agriculture officials have revealed their theory for how the Japanese encephalitis virus came to NSW.
“It’s speculated from a couple of sources; possibly water birds have migrated down to follow the water given there are larger areas of water here now, in our part of the world,” NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders told a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday.
He added another possibility was mosquitoes propelled by high winds carrxjmtzywying the virus south.
Mr Saunders said he had been in regular conversations with ministerial colleagues about the outbreak.
“It’s a human issue and mosquito-borne disease,” he said.
“Thankfully we have amazing biosecurity which has actually helped pick up the movement through piggeries, and that’s actually helping inform where the concern is.”
Six people have so far been confirmed infected in NSW.
The mosquito-borne virus, which had never been observed in the state before this year, is commonly transmitted to the insects from infected pigs.
Labor criticised the government’s response to the outbreak after it emerged officials had only inspected three per cent of the state’s piggeries.
The party’s agriculture spokesman Mick Veitch said recent heavy rains had created a virus “time bomb”.
“The government should have by now tested a majority of piggeries for the presence of Japanese encephalitis – particularly those close to large populations,” he said.
“For the government to tell the public simply to wear trousers and apply insect repellent is simply not good enough.
“It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to this potentially life-threatening infection of the brain.”
Previously, the Japanese encephalitis virus has mostly been detected in southeast Asia.
Most infected people will feel no symptoms but in rare cases the virus can cause headaches, convulsions and unconsciousness.
Vaccines can protect against the virus but once a person is infected there is no specific treatment.
People in affected areas have been urged to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
The sixth person to be infected in the state lives in the Riverina and is receiving treatment in a Victorian hospital.
The man in his 60s was confirmed infected on Monday.
