Australian encephalitis
| Classification according to ICD-10 | |
|---|---|
| A83.4 | Australian encephalitis, including Kunjin disease and Murray Valley encephalitis |
| ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) | |
Australian encephalitis is a collective term for virus-induced brain inflammation ( encephalitis ) occurring in Australia . Australian encephalitis is caused by two different pathogens: the Murray Valley virus (MVE) and the Kunjin virus (KUN). These viruses from the Flaviviridae family are transmitted to humans by nocturnal mosquitoes when they suck their blood and are therefore classified as part of the arbovirus group. So far, the disease is only spread in parts of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea . The viruses are related to the Japan encephalitis virus and the clinical course is similar.
literature
- JG McCormack, AM Allworth: Emerging viral infections in Australia. In: Med J Aust. 2002 Jul 1; 177 (1), pp. 45-49. PMID 12088481