Japanese encephalitis (JE)

In February 2022, Japanese encephalitis (JE) was detected and confirmed in piggeries in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. On 4 March, cases were detected in South Australia. There are currently more than 70 infected piggeries across the four states.

On 30 March a rare case of JE in one alpaca was confirmed in the Adelaide Plains local government area. Alpaca’s, like horses, are a dead-end host.

Also in March, the Northern Territory Government confirmed that a small number of feral pigs from the West Daly region tested positive for JE. The testing was conducted in mid-March as part of a routine animal health survey conducted by the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy. Further surveys and testing of feral pigs, horses and other animals for JE will continue as part of the northern Australia surveillance strategy for exotic diseases.

For more information, visit: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/animal/japanese-encephalitis

Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline: 1800 675 888

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