West Nile virus/Kunjin virus infection

Statutory notification

• West Nile virus/Kunjin virus infection is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• Alert: cases must be reported urgently by telephone to the Public Health Unit within a few hours of first suspicion of diagnosis.
• Case definition: See West Nile/Kunjin virus infection (external site) national surveillance case definition.
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 209KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health summary

• Infectious agent: Kunjin virus.
• Transmission: Mosquito-borne.
• Incubation period: Similar to MVE-5 to 28 days (usually 7 to 12 days).
• Infectious period: Not applicable. No evidence of person to person transmission
• Case exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Treatment: Varies according to symptoms, refer to doctor.
• Immunisation: None available.
• Case follow up: Is conducted by Public Health Units and the Communicable Disease Control Directorate.

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Up-to-date arboviral encephalitis notification data is currently not available
• General infectious disease reports
• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard