(MENAFN) Victoria state has recorded its inaugural seasonal detection of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in mosquitoes, officials announced Tuesday, triggering renewed public health warnings.

Authorities captured the infected mosquito through surveillance trapping conducted by the Horsham Rural City Council under Victoria's Arbovirus Disease Control Program, according to a statement from the Victoria Health Department. The discovery represents Australia's first JEV detection of the current season.

Public health officials are now calling on residents to heighten awareness of mosquito-transmitted disease risks as outdoor activity increases during the southern hemisphere's warmer months.

Since a severe 2022 outbreak that resulted in numerous infections and claimed six lives across several Australian states, JEV has maintained an endemic presence throughout the country. That epidemic marked a turning point, with the virus establishing ongoing circulation patterns previously unseen in the region.

Earlier this year, Melbourne confirmed its first human JEV infection since the 2022 outbreak, occurring in January. Australia's eastern regions have documented sporadic infections in recent months, including a Brisbane case reported in March.

The virus predominantly cycles between pigs and avian species but poses human health risks when transmitted through bites from carrier mosquitoes.

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