A young child has died after contracting the mosquito-borne disease Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) in the Northern Territory.
The child, who has not been identified, died in hospital on Saturday after being diagnosed with the virus.
The child‘s death is the second MVE fatality in the NT this year, after a 70-year-old woman died from the virus in February.
MVE is a rare but potentially fatal disease that is spread to humans by mosquitoes.
The virus is most common in rural and remote areas of Australia, and the NT is one of the highest-risk areas for MVE.
The NT Department of Health has warned residents and visitors to the territory to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
The tragic death comes barely a month after child from Western Australia died of MVE.
WA Health issued a warning to residents living in the northern area of the state, which has been identified as a risk hotspot after the Kimberley floods.
In January, NSW Health said Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) had been detected in a mosquitos in Menindee in the state’s far west following heavy rain.
Protective measures include wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk and using strong insect repellent. The health authority also advises covering up mosquito breeding grounds, such as water-filled containers, and sleeping under a mosquito net.
Symptoms of MVE include severe headaches, high fever, drowsiness, tremors and seizures.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
There is no specific treatment for MVE, but supportive care can be provided to help manage the symptoms.