A man aged in his 60s from Northern Victoria has died from Japanese Encephalitis.
Victoria’s health department said that an autopsy had confirmed that he died from the mosquito-borne virus, with an investigation now underway to find out how he became infected.
There have been seven confirmed cases of the virus in Victoria.
This is the first death.
A Japanese encephalitis vaccine is available and is recommended for people who work with or around pigs, including transport workers or vets who visit pig farms and those who cull or hunt pigs.
However, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud was unable to say how many people had been vaccinated when he was asked on Sky News.
He said it was a “matter for the states”.
“We handed them all over and obviously the states have worked through with particularly those working in the piggery industry,” he said.
“They’ve been targeting some local communities but local health authorities are working through that.
”We’re trying to act within both Health and Agriculture to move quicklxjmtzywy to get vaccines but also to make sure that councils are doing work around trying to eradicate mosquitoes in some of those areas where there’s water laying.”
The federal health department and Health Minister Greg Hunt on Tuesday refused to release any national vaccination figures and would only say supply was “sufficient” for initial priority groups.
“It is estimated that there are currently sufficient supplies of JE vaccines in Australia to vaccinate the initial priority groups,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“The Australian Government Department of Health is assisting states and territories in the procurement of additional vaccines should priority groups expand.
“Vaccinations are beginning this week and are being managed by the states and territories.”
