<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A potentially deadly mosquito borne virus has been detected in Brisbane for the first time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Health experts raised the alarm this weekend as wet weather from ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred threatened to push up infection risk.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Japanese encephalitis is now circulating amongst Brisbane mosquitoes.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/large-longlived-tornadoes-are-tearing-across-the-south-after-a-deadly-outbreak-friday-night/06926484-5fc8-41dd-92e7-8b36d347a100" rel="" target="" title="At least 32 dead in massive US storm"><strong><span>At least 32 dead in massive US storm</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not something we normally deal with here in south-east Queensland and there has been detection in mosquitoes locally," infectious diseases expert Professor Paul Griffin said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland Health warned there could be an increased risk to residents right across the region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Recent wet weather, including from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/tropical-cyclone-alfred" rel="" target="" title="ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred,"><span>ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred,</span></a><span> is raising concerns the virus could spread as mosquito populations boom.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/cyclone-alfred-brisbane-health-japanee-encephalitis/afd85cee-92aa-4b7d-9d3a-b62242b3398b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is something that's a bit concerning, given that we now have seen it in SEQ, it means people need to be aware," Griffin said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The new detection came after Queensland in January recorded its first locally acquired case of the virus since 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/weather-news-sydney-heatwave-total-fire-ban-warning/d8e86866-b7bf-4e00-9a82-f454a01fbe20"><strong><span>'Silent killer': Dangerous heatwave grips Sydney</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/03/04/14/44/tropical-cyclone-alfred-update-photos"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/CQEjZujtxw2EjBml4UkJ5o2x3XE=/60x240:3081x1940/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F4b967700-9da7-4ae5-82e3-7d2847f4b653" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/CQEjZujtxw2EjBml4UkJ5o2x3XE=/60x240:3081x1940/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F4b967700-9da7-4ae5-82e3-7d2847f4b653 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/92QD-lQ01bmdLsd4CxvZBchslog=/60x240:3081x1940/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F4b967700-9da7-4ae5-82e3-7d2847f4b653 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Before-and-after shots show beaches devastated by Alfred</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/03/04/14/44/tropical-cyclone-alfred-update-photos">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Across the border in New South Wales, five cases have been detected in recent months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The latest is a man in his 20s who travelled to the state's north.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two men have already died as a result of the virus there this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The symptoms to watch out for include fever, headache. nausea, neck stiffness and disorientation, but most cases are mild and some people might not have any symptoms at all.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Griffin said the best way to protect yourself is to wear long sleeves, long pants, use repellent and stay inside at dawn and dusk.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Vaccines are also available for free across the country, for those at higher risk due to their job or where they live.</span></div></div>