In order to tailor the site to your needs, please click the button that relates best to you.
So long as you have cookies enabled you will only need to do this once. However, you can change your selection at any time using the dropdown navigation option above the CESPHN logo, top left.
NSW Health is urging the community to take precautions against mosquito bites after a fourth NSW resident was confirmed to have Japanese encephalitis (JE).
The confirmed case is a woman aged in her 60s who spent time in the Griffith region before the onset of her illness. She was treated in hospital before being discharged recently and she is continuing to recover at home. This is the second confirmed case who has spent time in the Griffith region.
Several more people in NSW are currently undergoing further testing for JE and more cases are expected to be confirmed over the coming days and weeks.
Locally acquired cases of JE have never previously been identified in NSW in animals or humans. Since late February 2022, the JE virus has been confirmed in samples from pig farms in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.
The JE virus is spread by mosquitoes and can infect animals and humans. The virus cannot be transmitted between humans, and it cannot be caught by eating pork or other pig products.
There is no specific treatment for JE, which can cause severe neurological illness with headache, convulsions and reduced consciousness in some cases.
The best thing people throughout the state can do to protect themselves and their families against JE is to take steps to avoid mosquito bites.
Simple actions you can take include:
Avoid going outdoors during peak mosquito times, especially at dawn and dusk, and close to wetland and bushland areas.
Wear long sleeves and pants outdoors (reduce skin exposure). Also wear shoes and socks where possible. There are insecticides (e.g. permethrin) available for treating clothing for those spending extended periods outdoors.
Apply repellent to all areas of exposed skin, especially those that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus which are the most effective against mosquitoes. The strength of a repellent determines the duration of protection with the higher concentrations providing longer periods of protection. Always check the label for reapplication times.
Reapply repellent after swimming. The duration of protection from repellent is also reduced with perspiration, such as during strenuous activity or hot weather so it may need to be reapplied more frequently.
Apply the sunscreen first and then apply the repellent. Be aware that DEET-containing repellents may decrease the sun protection factor (SPF) of sunscreens so you may need to re-apply the sunscreen more frequently.
For children in particular – most skin repellents are safe for use on children aged three months and older when used according to directions, although some formulations are only recommended for children aged 12 months and older – always check the product. Infants aged less than three months can be protected from mosquitoes by using an infant carrier draped with mosquito netting that is secured along the edges.
If camping, ensure the tent has fly screens to prevent mosquitoes entering.
Mosquito coils and other devices that release insecticides can assist reducing mosquito bites but should be used in combination with topical insect repellents.
Reduce all water holding containers around the home where mosquitoes could breed. Mosquitoes only need a small amount of liquid to breed.
For further information on mosquito-borne disease and ways to protect yourself go to:
Welcome to our new website! As you may have noticed, our website looks different. Central and Eastern Sydney PHN have moved to a new site and although much has remained the same, we have introduced some new functions. These include: Updated navigation When you land on our new website, you…
Immunisation weekly update – 8 February 2023 HPV vaccination now single dose on NIP Changes from 6 February 2023 to human papillomavirus vaccination (Gardasil®9) dose schedule under the National Immunisation Program: Routine schedule for people aged 12 to 13 years will change to a single dose (previously a 2 dose…
Sydney World Pride 2023 – General Practice Support CESPHN is a proud supporter of the Sydney WorldPride 2023 that is occurring from 17 February to 5 March 2023. To assist people to get the right care and avoid unnecessary presentations to emergency departments, we are encouraging general practices to review…
COVID-19 weekly update – 08 JANUARY 2023 ATAGI 2023 Booster Advice The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have updated their recommendations on the use of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine in 2023. ATAGI recommends a 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for adults in the following groups, if their…
MEDIA RELEASE: Canterbury Head to Health service opens doors to offer free, immediate mental health support. Canterbury Head to Health opened its doors in late January, offering free and immediate support for anyone in Canterbury and the surrounding regions experiencing distress or mental health concerns.Trained professionals are providing short to…
CESPHN Vax at Home service The CESPHN Vax at Home Service is for those people who are housebound and not able to leave their house to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or booster. The service will accept referrals for people 16 years and over. Referrals will be accepted from GPs and…
IAR-DST Training resumes today The implementation of the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) training is gaining momentum both within CESPHN and nationally. National GP training numbers are closing in on 300 and over 50 of these have been trained by CESPHN. This year we are excited to…