Mosquitoes just make us sick, don't they? We know how common diseases like dengue and chikungunya are in our country. But imagine that you are going to another country, especially a country like Australia, for a trip or for some other purpose. There are also diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes, but we haven't heard much about them. One such disease is the Ross River Virus. Although it doesn't cause any major complications, it can cause discomfort to the body for weeks, maybe even months. So let's talk about this in a little more detail and simply today.
What exactly is Ross River Virus?
Simply put, Ross River Virus is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It is most commonly seen in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the islands of the South Pacific region like Fiji and Samoa. This disease is not reported in our country. However, it is very important for us who travel to countries like Australia to be aware of this.
This virus belongs to the genus `alphavirus`, which means that the chikungunya virus in our country belongs to the same family. Therefore, some of the symptoms are similar. Some common characteristics of such viruses are:
- Transmission through arthropods such as mosquitoes.
- Symptoms can sometimes last for months, sometimes even longer.
It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people develop this disease each year in Australia alone.
How does this virus spread to someone?
This virus is mainly transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. Two ways in which this happens have been discovered.
1. From animals to humans: This is the main way. Imagine a kangaroo, a wallaby, a dog, or an animal like a rat is infected with this virus. A mosquito comes and eats that animal, and then bites you. Then the virus enters your body from the animal through the mosquito.
2. Human-to-human transmission: This is a bit less common, but it can happen. That is, a mosquito can bite an infected person and then infect a healthy person. Research has found that this method was responsible for a major outbreak in the Cook Islands in 1979-1980.
The most important thing is that this disease is not transmitted directly from person to person (through coughing, sneezing, touching, etc.). For transmission to occur, there must be an intermediary, that is, a mosquito.
What are the symptoms of this?
The amazing thing here is that most people who contract Ross River Virus (about 55% - 75%) do not develop any symptoms. That is, even if the virus enters the body, they do not get sick.
However, for those who do develop symptoms, they usually start between 7 and 9 days after exposure. Sometimes symptoms can appear as early as 3 days, and other times as late as 21 days.
Let's look at the main symptoms in a table like this.
| Common symptoms | Prevalence among patients |
|---|---|
| Joint Pain - Especially in joints like the ankles, knees, and elbows. | More than 95% |
| Fatigue | About 90% |
| Fever | About 50% - 60% |
| Headache | About 50% - 60% |
| Joint Swelling | About 50% |
| Skin rash - on the limbs and chest, abdomen. | About 50% |
These main symptoms usually subside within a few weeks. However, for some people, especially joint pain and fatigue, they can last for 6 months or even longer . This is the most troubling aspect of this disease.
But the most encouraging thing to say is that so far, no human deaths have been reported due to Ross River Virus.
How does a doctor diagnose this?
If you have these symptoms and have traveled to an area where Ross River Virus is common, your doctor may suspect you have the disease. The main way to confirm the diagnosis is with a blood test.
This is called `paired serology`. This involves taking two blood samples from you two weeks apart and testing them. This checks to see if your body has increased its levels of antibodies against the virus. This can accurately diagnose the disease. However, since there is a very small chance of false positive results, it is best to talk to your doctor to confirm anything.
Is there a treatment for this?
There is no specific cure for Ross River Virus infection yet. Also, since it is a virus , antibiotics are ineffective.
Therefore, treatment is aimed at controlling the symptoms.
- Painkillers: Doctors recommend painkillers from a group called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for joint pain and headaches.
- Physical therapy: Things like swimming, gentle massage, and hydrotherapy can help relieve joint pain.
- Rest: The best thing to do for fatigue is to get plenty of rest.
Most people recover completely within a few months.
How can we protect ourselves from this?
The best way to protect yourself from these diseases is to stay away from mosquitoes. If you are going to a country like Australia, especially during the rainy season (February - May), be very careful about this. If you are going to engage in outdoor activities like camping, kayaking, etc., be sure to follow these tips.
- Use mosquito repellents: Apply a government-approved mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin.
- Apply insecticide to clothing: You can spray 0.5% permethrin insecticide on your clothing and equipment like tents. Never apply it directly to your skin.
- Use mosquito nets: It is essential to use a mosquito net when sleeping at night, especially outdoors.
- Wear appropriate clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover as much of your body as possible. Light-colored clothing is less attractive to mosquitoes.
- Keep the windows closed: If you don't have screens on your windows, keep them closed, especially in the evening and at night.
By following these simple steps, you can protect yourself from Ross River Virus and many other mosquito-borne diseases and enjoy your trip.
Take-Home Message
- Ross River Virus is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes in countries like Australia. It has not been reported in Sri Lanka.
- The main symptoms are severe joint pain, extreme fatigue, fever, and skin rashes.
- Many people who develop this disease do not experience any symptoms.
- Although there is no cure for the disease, symptoms can be controlled with painkillers and rest.
- If you're going to a country like Australia, protecting yourself from mosquitoes is the most important thing. Using mosquito repellent and wearing clothing that covers your body is very important.
- If you have symptoms and have traveled to such an area, contact your doctor immediately for advice.
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