Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is transmitted through mosquito bites, with most individuals experiencing no symptoms or mild fevers and headaches. In about one in 100 cases, severe disease and potential fatality can occur. Importantly, JEV does not spread from person to person.
For workers exposed to the risk of JEV, it's crucial to understand that this viral infection affects the central nervous system, causing inflammation of the brain that can be fatal.
Mosquitoes become carriers of JEV by biting infected animals like pigs or water birds and then transmitting it to the next creature they bite. While humans and horses can be infected, they cannot pass the virus to others, and there is no risk of contracting the virus from consuming pork.
WorCover Queensland recommends vaccination for those working in industries or areas with a JEV risk. Workers at risk include those in piggeries, pork abattoirs, pork rendering plants, pig doggers, hunters, those working directly with mosquitoes, and individuals in specific geographical regions.
Suspected cases of JEV in animals should be reported to Biosecurity Queensland. Severe cases in humans are characterized by symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, sensitivity to light, neck stiffness, nausea, convulsions, and coma, with approximately one third resulting in death.
To manage the risks associated with JEV:
- Prevent mosquito bites as much as possible.
- Workers must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and ensure their work does not negatively impact others.
- Employers or persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) have a duty to manage JEV risks under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
For businesses, this involves providing a safe working environment, implementing safe work practices, offering information, training, and supervision, providing personal protective equipment (PPE), and ensuring systems for PPE inspection, maintenance, cleaning, and storage.
The four-step risk management process includes:
- Identifying the risk through education, workplace inspection, worker consultations, and reviewing information.
- Assessing the risk to determine its existence, existing control measures, actions to control the risk, and urgency of action.
- Controlling the risk by using measures to eliminate or minimize exposure, including vaccination and mosquito control.
- Reviewing risk controls regularly to ensure their effectiveness.
Under work health and safety laws, regular reviews are necessary when control measures prove ineffective, when changes might create new risks, when new hazards or risks arise, when workers request a review, or after a health and safety representative requests a review.
Codes of practice
- How to manage work health and safety risks code of practice 2021 (PDF, 0.65 MB)
- Managing the work environment and facilities code of practice 2021 (PDF, 0.57 MB)
- First aid in the workplace code of practice 2021 (PDF, 0.48 MB)