Barmah Forest virus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Barmah Forest virus is a virus currently found only in Australia. According to a Queensland Public Health Services fact sheet, "there is no specific drug treatment" for the virus, but the disease is non-fatal and relatively mild. The virus is transmitted to humans by bites from infected mosquitos, and cannot be transmitted between people. The virus is probably hosted by wild birds or marsupials.
Symptoms include fever, malaise, rash, joint pain, and muscle tenderness. Fever and malaise generally disappear within a few days to a week, but other symptoms such as joint pain may continue up to six months.
The virus's symptoms are nearly indistinguishable from those of Ross River virus.
The virus was discovered in 1974 in mosquitos in the Barmah Forest in northern Victoria.
[edit] External links
- ICTVdB Virus Description - 00.073.0.01.004. Barmah Forest virus. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
- http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-arbovirus-pdf-fsbarmah.htm Barmah Forest virus infection - Fact Sheet] from the Australia Department of Health and Ageing
- Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses
- Queensland Public Health Services: Barmah Forest Virus (PDF)
- Mozzies carrier of 'emerging virus'
