Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus located in sentinel chickens in northern Victoria - March 2008

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Dear Doctor,

The presence of Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVE), (formerly called Australian Arboencephalitis) has been detected in a sentinel chicken flock in northern Victoria. While no human cases have been identified, please be alert to the possibility of MVE in patients who present with a compatible clinical picture, especially those who live in or have recently visited regions in close proximity to the Murray River.

Most cases of MVE infection are asymptomatic, while mild cases present with a febrile headache or aseptic meningitis. Symptomatic infections are usually marked by acute onset, fever in all patients commonly associated with a combination of anorexia, malaise, severe frontal headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness, with progression to obvious neurological disease such as alteration in mental state, neck stiffness, ataxia and speech disturbances or convulsions. In severe cases coma, pharyngeal paralysis and respiratory failure develop.

Diagnosis depends on seroconversion demonstrated on two blood specimens separated by 7-10 days. Sera for diagnosis of human MVE infection should be sent to the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) (ph: 03 9342 2600).

Expert advice on case management can be obtained from the Victorian Infectious Diseases Service located at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (ph: 03 9342 7000).

MVE virus is a group A notifiable disease, which means that suspected cases should be notified immediately by telephone to the Department’s Communicable Disease Prevention & Control Section on 1300 651 160.

Further information can be obtained at the following websites:

• Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
• University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital
• Infectious Diseases Epidemiology & Surveillance

Thank you for your cooperation.

Yours sincerely

DR JOHN CARNIE
Chief Health Officer

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Murray Valley encephalitis alert for general practitioners (34kb, pdf)

Fact sheet – Murray Valley encephalitis (52kb, pdf)

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