How Does Murray Valley Encephalitis Differ From the Kunjin Virus?
Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) spreads to humans through infected mosquito bites. While many people afflicted may not reveal any symptoms, most will present with tiredness, fever, headache, nausea, or vomiting. In some severe cases, the symptoms could deteriorate and cause encephalitis (brain inflammation), characterized by decreased coordination, convulsions (uncontrollably violent and abrupt body jerking), disorientation, and trouble speaking.
The Kunjin virus is also associated with mosquito bites. A significant number of people do not get symptoms. People may suffer mild symptoms like fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, tiredness, and rash when the symptoms appear. Rarely, the condition may progress into encephalitis, necessitating hospitalization.
Though mosquitoes cause both conditions (Culex annulirostris), the symptoms exhibited by MVE are more severe in most instances. They could cause death, while the symptoms exhibited by the Kunjin virus are mild to moderate and, in some cases, severe. In most cases, the patients do not display any disease symptoms.
Can One Get Kunjin or Murray Valley Encephalitis More Than Once?
The viruses that cause Kunjin and Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) are naturally transmitted from mosquitoes to birds, particularly waterbirds. The disease is not transmitted from birds to humans. Instead, the viruses can infect humans only from mosquito bites. Since MVE and Kunjin are very rare viruses, people who have never been exposed to them before, like very young children or recent immigrants to areas where MVE and Kunjin viruses are common, are most in danger.
As the MVE or Kunjin virus is very rare, it only means one cannot get it again after being infected. Following a childhood infection, adults who have grown up in places with a high prevalence of the viruses become immune. However, immunity to either Kunjin or MVE offers no protection from the other. Being able to get infected with the MVE virus prevents the person from becoming immune to the Kunjin virus and vice versa.
What Is the Incubation Period of MVE and Kunjin Virus?
The incubation period is usually between seven and 12 days but may range from five to 28 days. Symptoms normally manifest after eight to ten days from mosquito bite. Since symptoms of both instances are indistinguishable, it is important to seek emergency medical care once suspected to ascertain appropriate treatment and management.
What Treatment Exists for Kunjin and Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE)?
The Kunjin and Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) viruses spread through the mosquito-borne pathway, causing severe sickness in people. Although rare, MVE can prove fatal; however, symptoms from the Kunjin virus are generally less severe. Tragically, at the current time, there exist no vaccines or targeted medical therapies against either virus. Prompt medical care should be sought if someone is suspected of having the Kunjin virus or MVE infection. Hospitals can then closely monitor patients' status and offer supportive care to manage symptoms. In cases of extreme severity, patients may need to be transferred to larger hospitals equipped with intensive care units to ensure the best possible medical care. Prompt medical treatment for the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes may save lives and improve the prognosis significantly.
How Is the Recovery From MVE and Kunjin Virus?
The severity of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) is an element that influences how fast the recovered patient gets better. Patients with milder cases usually recover after a few days, while those with more severe symptoms may take months. In more serious situations, language therapy and even speech and physiotherapy may be required, including extensive rehabilitation. Unfortunately, about a quarter of the MVE cases prove fatal, while many more cases may continue with chronic paralysis or damage to the brain.
What Precautions Should Be Taken to Prevent MVE and Kunjin Virus?
People can reduce their risk of getting the MVE and Kunjin viruses by taking the following simple precautions to avoid mosquito bites:
1. Use of Repellents and Covering Up:
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The precautionary measures, like wearing loose, long-sleeved, light-colored clothes when outside, effectively reduce the possibility of mosquito bites and help stop infection by diseases carried by mosquitoes. It is important to ensure that bed nets and suitable clothing are used to protect infants and children.
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Apply mosquito repellents with picaridin, DEET (diethyltoluamide), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) evenly to all exposed skin, and remember to reapply as directed.
2. Get Rid of Breeding Places in the Backyard:
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Remove any water-collecting containers from the backyard to avoid a possible breeding place.
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Put fish that feed on mosquitoes, like goldfish, into decorative ponds and keep plants far away from the water's edge, thereby reducing mosquito habitats.
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Ensure the swimming pools are clean, chlorinated, and devoid of debris that may result in mosquito breeding grounds.
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They are also desirable in watering the plants that absorb wastewater, especially if the overflow goes straight into the sewage.
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Put on vent pipe covers to keep mosquitoes out of septic tank systems and seal any openings around the lid.
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Check that all drain sewers are sealed off—insect-proof mesh screens rainwater tanks, including inspection ports, overflow, and input.
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Remove pot plant drip trays regularly and replace them with sand. Keep pet and animal water bowls clean every week.
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Remove water that collects in the leaf axils, especially those of bromeliads, every week to avoid breeding sites for mosquitoes.
3. Safeguarding Homes:
Screen all doors and windows to construct barriers impregnable to insects. Install outward-opening, self-closing doors to keep mosquitoes out when the doors are left open. Create fully screened outdoor areas for protection while traveling or camping in high-risk areas.
4. Camping and Travelling:
Use a screen tent caravan or any other sleeping gear, and cover sleeping spaces with a mosquito net. Recognize and avoid mosquito-producing habitats, such as salt marshes, swamps, and river floodplains.
Conclusion
Both MVE and Kunjin virus are caused by mosquito bites and are endemic to West Australia. Currently, there are no vaccines or fixed treatments for treating these diseases. Prevention from mosquito bites is the only way to avoid contracting the disease. If people get infected and show the signs and symptoms, they should immediately seek medical advice.
