See a doctor if experiencing mosquito borne disease symptoms

Infection with mosquito borne diseases may cause illness ranging from mild to very serious. Illness may include flu-like symptoms such as:

• pain in muscles and joints
• rashes
• headaches
• fever.

If you or anyone in your household are experiencing these symptoms, you need to:

• protect yourself against further bites to limit spread of the disease
• see a general practitioner (GP) immediately.

The only way to detect whether your illness is caused by a mosquito borne disease is through specific blood tests.

Common mosquito borne diseases

Some of the most common mosquito borne diseases are more serious than others. It's important to understand the differences and stay informed.

Ross River Virus

• Symptoms: can include joint pain, fever and rash
• Duration: symptoms may appear 3 to 11 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito
• Recovery: most people feel better within a few weeks, for others it can take a few months
• Location: widely across Australia.

Barmah Forest virus

• Symptoms: can include fever, headache and swollen joints
• Duration: may appear 3 to 11 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito
• Recovery: most people feel better in a few weeks.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)

Most people (about 99%) have no symptoms or mild symptoms like a fever, headache or stomach pain. Children sometimes have vomiting.

In severe cases, you may develop acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). If you or anyone in your household has any of the symptoms below, seek medical attention immediately:

• sudden onset of high fever and chills
• severe headache
• a stiff or sore neck
• disorientation (you don't know where you are)
• paralysis (you can't move)
• coma (you are unconscious).

Dengue disease

• Symptoms: can include intense headache (behind your eyes), fever, muscle and joint pains and rash
• Duration: may appear 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito
• Recovery: most people recover in about a week.
• Location: This virus is found in most tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Dengue is not usually found in Australia. Outbreaks of dengue have occurred in parts of north and central Queensland and usually occurs when a traveller arrives from overseas with the virus in their blood and is bitten by local mosquitoes.

More information

• Read more about disease specific advice
• Find out how to remove potential breeding sites