James Doogue

Seven people have been confirmed as having Japanese encephalitis, with more expected. Across SA, Vic, QLD and NSW so far JE has been detected in 14 pigeries.

The incubation period for the disease is typically 5-15 days. So there could be lots more cases.

The disease is spread by infected mosquitoes which pick up the disease from infected animals.

Only about 1% of those exposed to infected mosquitoes develop symptoms which relate mainly to the swelling of the brain.

Initial symptoms often include fever, headache, and vomiting. Mental status changes, neurologic symptoms, weakness, and movement disorders might develop over the next few days. Seizures are common, especially among children.

Among patients who develop encephalitis, 20% – 30% die.

There is no specific treatment which has been found to benefit patients with JE, but hospitalization for supportive care and close observation is generally required for all those who develop symptoms.

Although some symptoms improve after the acute illness, 30%-50% of survivors continue to have neurologic, cognitive, or psychiatric symptoms.

Obviously medically vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those with comorbidities are more susceptible.

So we have a disease which for most people exposed, like Covid-19, is not serious, in terms of developing symptoms.

But unlike Covid-19, the bulk of those who become symptomatic need to be hospitalized. Also unlike Covid-19 around 40% of symptomatic JE sufferers end up in ICU, and 30% to 50% die. Compared to under 2% globally for Covid-19.And 30% - 50% of all survivors have serious long term problems. This is a very scary disease.

Given our experience with Covid-19, the best health advice, and our premiers wanting to keep us all safe, because any death is a tragedy, I expect the following actions:

1. The racist, divisive name, Japanese Encephalitis will be changed to something we can all identify with and rally around. Maybe 'Flavi-Encepha-1'? It is spread through the movement of migratory birds and through the movement of infected mosquitoes, often over long distances due to wind dispersal.'

2. Every state will declare a state of emergency so all the measures they put in place to keep us safe, don't have to be approved by parliament and can be a direct breech of human rights and personal freedoms.

3A. If the National Cabinet still exists (have we heard from it recently?), it will pivot attention to JE and work out ways of spending billions of dollars.

3B. They will also declare a complete three week lockdown commencing from midnight. This is to identify areas where the disease is present, and to allow our health services to prepare for a potential explosion in the need for hospital beds.

3C. Japanese Encephalitis spread is mainly through the movement of migratory birds and through the movement of infected mosquitoes, often over long distances due to wind dispersal. Most susceptible livestock are pigs and horses, and of course humans. So the National Cabinet will close all migration of birds until further notice. After the 3 week lockdown all states except WA, NT and Tasmania will take a certain quota of migrating birds which must be isolated for 15 days.

4. The ACT, Tasmania, NT and WA will close its borders to other states. Any people with travel exemptions into those closed border states will require to stay in government nominated isolation for 15 days with two negative tests on days 10 and 15 before they can leave. The isolation will be at the individuals cost.

5. All pigs and horses must be tested for JE. Any piggeries or stables where JE is detected will be burnt down with the pigs and horses in them. Until further notice all pigs and horses must be tested every 10 days with the date of their most recent negative test included in microchips which can be readily scanned by health authorities. It is hoped to introduce a similar system for people in the near future.

6. Until further notice nobody is allowed to leave their home unless they are exempt employees, or for one hour a day for shopping and exercise.

7. Mosquito body suits (see picture below) must be worn by everyone outside home and indoors if the building is not fitted with mosquito proof screens on all windows and doors. This will apply even after the 3 week lockdown period.

These suits are currently being distributed to government essential workers. Everyone else must supply their own. You can make your own, and patterns are provided at the Dept of Health website.

8. The government is setting up testing sites around each state. You must get tested if you have been bitten by a mosquito or if you think you were bitten by a mosquito, or if you have been in contact with someone who has been bitten by a mosquito.

Also get tested straight away if you have any of the following symptoms:

- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea
- Feeling Weak

We are all in this together. We can crush Japanese Encephalitis or whatever it's going to be called once they get rid of the divisive, racist name.

https://youtu.be/ThyOdGOgQEM

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 11:32 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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