A West Australian child from the West Kimberley has died from Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), a mosquito-borne infection.
MVE is a rare but potentially serious infection of the central nervous system.
The child had been receiving treatment in a Perth hospital.
The WA Department of Health said the child could have potentially been exposed to infected mosquitoes in the West Kimberley region after the recent devastating floods in the area.
It is only the second reported case of MVE in Western Australia since 2018, but there have been eight cases nationally so far this year.
Dr Paul Armstrong, the Department of Health's Director of Communicable Disease Control, said the case follows the MVE virus being found in mosquitoes and sentinel chickens — used to test for the presence of mosquito-borne disease — in parts of the Kimberley and Pilbara regions
Surveillance is continuing in both regions.
"We urge these communities to do everything they can to protect themselves against mosquito bites as there is no vaccination or specific treatment for Murray Valley encephalitis," Dr Armstrong said.
"In young children, fever might be the only early sign of infection."
"Parents should see their doctor or local health service if concerned, particularly if their child experiences drowsiness, floppiness, irritability, poor feeding, or general distress.
"People can minimise the risk of infection by taking measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes especially when they are most active between dusk and dawn.
"Avoiding mosquito bites will also protect against other mosquito-borne infections including Japanese encephalitis and Kunjin viruses."
Initial symptoms of the infection are fever, drowsiness, a headache, stiff neck, nausea and dizziness.
"People with these symptoms should seek medical advice as soon as possible," Dr Armstrong said.
"In severe cases, people may have seizures, lapse into a coma, be left with permanent brain damage or die."
Dr Armstrong said the significant rainfall in WA's north had created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes and that meant the risk of infection in the region may be higher than in previous years.
The Department of Health recommended people in the areas tried to minimise their risk of mosquito bites by covering up while outside, ensuring infants are covered, avoiding the outdoors where possible at dawn and dusk, and using mosquito repellent.
