Murray Valley Encephalitis

Murray Valley encephalitis is a viral disease caused by Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV). The virus is endemic to northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. The virus is transmitted by mosquitos and was in late 2011 found in chicken in Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales.

Murray Valley encephalitis was earlier known as Australian encephalitis and in humans can cause permanent neurological disease or death. MVEV is related to Kunjin virus which has a similar ecology but has a lower morbidity rate. Although the arbovirus is endemic to Northern Australia, it has occasionally spread to the southern states during times of heavy rainfall during the summer monsoon season via seasonal flooding of the Murray-Darling river system.