Ross River Virus By Rebecca Heenan

What is the Disease?  Ross River Virus (RRV) is a widespread mosquito-borne pathogen and is Australia’s most common mosquito disease, with an average of 5000 cases each year.

What is the cause of the Disease?  Ross River Virus is caused by the animal host-vector-human cycle, where the mosquito is the vector. The female mosquito feeds on the blood of an infected animal, when it is time to feed again the mosquito will pass on the infection to the next animal or person.

What type of disease is it?  The Ross River Virus is a Mosquito-Borne disease.  Indirect Disease because the insect carries the virus.

Who commonly suffers from this disease?  Everyone who is in contact with known mosquito habitats, live in hot/humid climates e.g. Queensland and live in places with lots of water nearby.

What are the signs and symptoms?  Joint pains and inflammation  Muscle aches  Fever  Rash  Headache  Fatigue (tiredness)  Arthritis  Myalgia (muscular pain)  Swollen lymph nodes  Tingling and pain on palms of hands and soles of feet.  You can also get general malaise,  Nausea,  Sore eyes  Sore throat.  Arthralgia (sharp/ severe pain occurring in nerves or joints)

What is the Treatment of the disease? Can it be cured?  There is no current cure for the Ross River Virus, although the symptoms can be treated.  There are a numerous amount of panedol, drugs and antibiotics which can ease the pain such as, aspirin, paracetamol and Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).

How you can prevent RRV?  Screens  Nets  Long sleeve tops and clothing  Repellents that contain Diethyltoluamide (DEET)  Mosquito coils  Make sure that there are no containers around that can hold water for Mosquito's to breed in. 

Implications and impacts on the society.  Environmental factors could be that the Mosquito's are killing other animals with the disease and they are breeding more quickly into the food chain.  Lifestyle factors could be that citizens are becoming more worried to go on holidays near rivers/creeks etc. where there could be many Mosquito’s.

Has the Disease increased? Is it more common in different countries?  Ross River Virus has about 5000 cases each year in Australia, it can defiantly increase due to water levels rising.  This virus is more common in places where the climate is warmer e.g. Queensland and near places with large amounts of water.

Any interesting info?  The Simpsons episode:  It shows how easily diseases can get into our country and hurt us.

Bibliography   The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Complete home medical guide  The Galle Encyclopedia of Medicine  Google Images