Warning as Murray Valley encephalitis claims third Victorian life

Victorians are being warned to take steps to avoid mosquitoes after mosquito-borne virus Murray Valley encephalitis claimed a third life in the state’s north.

The man, aged in his 70s, is believed to have been exposed to the virus in the Shire of Campaspe.

Victoria’s deputy chief health officer, Deb Friedman, says “about one in every 800 people who are infected get this type of devastating encephalitis that can be fatal”.

Press PLAY below to hear the advice to Victorians

The virus has re-emerged in the state’s north for the first time in nearly 50 years, with infected mosquitoes detected in Mildura, Swan Hill, Campaspe, Indigo and Wangaratta.

“If you make a horizontal line across greater Bendigo and the northern Grampians, and Horsham, and west Wimmera, everything kind of north of that would be at risk, except in areas that are in the alpine areas of the state where because of elevation there’s less likely to be a risk of mosquitoes,” she said.