Islamabad - Australian authorities have discovered the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) on two pig farms in Queensland state, an official statement said.
Biosecurity Queensland on Monday (17/2) issued an alert confirming the presence of the virus in southern Queensland.
"This is the first finding of JEV in animals in Queensland since July 2022. JEV is already thought to have entered mainland Australia, so this finding is not surprising," the statement said.
Cases of the virus have also recently been detected in the states of New South Wales and Victoria.
Earlier in January, Australia confirmed the first human case of Japanese encephalitis virus in Victoria since 2022. The patient is in critical condition in a Melbourne hospital.
The Japanese encephalitis virus usually attacks pigs and birds, but it can be transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.