Mosquito-borne disease

Mosquito-borne viruses can affect livestock including horses, pigs, sheep, cattle and working dogs and other animals – bite prevention and mosquito control are key to keeping animals free from disease.

Mosquito-borne viruses that can impact animals include Japanese encephalitis, Murray Valley encephalitis virus, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Dengue virus, and West Nile (Kunjin) virus.

Periods of heavy rainfall or floods can lead to ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.

All land-owners should take steps to remove mosquito habitats such as stagnant water and limit exposure to mosquitoes for humans and animals.

Animal owners and veterinarians suspecting JE, Hendra and West Nile virus clinical disease should notify their vet or the Agriculture Victoria Animal Health and Welfare team, the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888 or the Notify Now App.

For more information about mosquito management for pigs and mosquito management for horses go to the Farm Biosecurity Program website.