Widow of man killed by Murray Valley encephalitis warns of mosquito bite danger

Australia Broadcast Center 10-06-2025

When Sonia Blackaby set out caravanning with her husband across Western Australia's far north, she never thought a mosquito bite would make it their last trip together.
Travelling from Tom Price, 1,450 kilometres north-east of Perth, to the Kimberley two years ago, her husband, Peter, contracted a rare mosquito-borne illness.
"We returned home and, within a week of that, he started showing symptoms, which I thought at the beginning was a stroke," she said.
Peter Blackaby had contracted Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), a rare but serious mosquito-borne disease that can cause brain inflammation, coma and death.
There is no treatment or vaccine for it.
Mr Blackaby was flown to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment, but his condition worsened in the following hours.
"He went from showing signs [of life] to being in a coma, non-verbal, unresponsive, quadriplegic, and basically in a vegetative state," Ms Blackaby said.
Ms Blackaby's story struck a chord with the West Australian government, which is now offering free insect repellent kits to community groups in areas deemed at high risk of a mosquito-borne illness.
"So sporting clubs, caravan parks, other places in the community will always have insect repellent available," WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat said.
"There were 12 cases of Murray Valley encephalitis reported since 2023, and five of those have resulted in deaths.
"It is serious."
Part of the reason Ms Blackaby is speaking out now is that she does not think the existing messaging about mosquito-borne illnesses is cutting through.
For years, the government has backed a campaign called "Fight the Bite".
But Ms Blackaby said most people she talked to had not heard of MVE.
"I still travel with my caravan and I make it my public duty to talk to people and ask if they've heard of MVE," she said.
"If I can stop one family from going through what my family went through, it's worth it."
The initiative comes as Kimberley residents report increased mosquito activity following recent unseasonal rains.
Mosquito traps detected MVE in the West Kimberley earlier this month.
Broome resident Robyn Maher said the mosquitoes were "out in force".
"On this morning's walk through Minyirr I had a black T-shirt on, and my husband said, 'Your whole back is covered in mosquitoes,'" she said.
Ms Maher said free mosquito repellent was a "really good idea".
"It's ridiculously expensive. Not everyone can afford food, let alone a can of Aerogard, so that's a really good initiative," she said.
Ms Blackaby said everyone living in high-risk mosquito regions like the Pilbara and Kimberley should be applying insect repellent as part of their daily routine.
"It just has to become ingrained a bit like 'slip, slop, slap' with sunscreen," she said.
"It needs to become something that we're just aware of on the regular, not just a news article that pops up every now and again."
The government said it was planning a statewide rollout of the initiative next year.

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Joondalup, Midland hospital staff encouraged to wear masks as high flu and COVID cases hit

West Australian

2 days ago

West Australian

Joondalup, Midland hospital staff encouraged to wear masks as high flu and COVID cases hit

Two Perth hospitals have given a directive to staff to wear masks after an unprecedented influx of influenza and COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, Joondalup Health Campus staff were requested to wear masks in all clinical areas to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses. It is understood St John of God Midland Hospital has also encouraged staff to wear masks in clinical areas. It comes as The West Australian this week revealed the number of people in hospital with the flu had more than doubled the same time last year. A Ramsay Health Care WA spokeswoman said the request to wear masks came after an increase in infectious respiratory bugs at the hospital — including influenza and COVID. 'Joondalup Health Campus is encouraging staff to wear face masks in all clinical areas in response to an increase in respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, which the hospital is seeing more of than usual for this time of the year, including in relation to inpatients,' she said. 'At this stage, Hollywood Private Hospital, Glengarry Private Hospital and Attadale Rehabilitation Hospital haven't experienced the same level of heightened influenza and COVID activity, and therefore have not needed to make changes to mask wearing protocols. 'Ramsay Health Care will continue to closely monitor the situation across our WA hospitals.' She encouraged people to get the flu vaccination and keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Perth's northern suburbs have experienced the highest flu numbers in the metropolitan area with 2556 cases so far this year. The eastern suburbs are next with 2316 cases while the southern suburbs have recorded 1916 infections. A St John of God Health Care spokeswoman said 'ensuring the safety of patients and caregivers continues to be a top priority'. 'To be more agile in managing acute respiratory infections, a framework is in place that enables our wards or hospitals to introduce mask use during periods of increased risk, such as localised outbreaks,' she said. 'These decisions are made locally, based on clinical advice and current risk levels.' A WA Health spokesman said the department had not issued a State-wide directive to wear masks in hospitals. 'As per the COVID-19 infection and prevention control in WA healthcare facilities guidelines, healthcare and residential care facilities may implement routine mask-wearing as part of their winter respiratory virus strategy, during specific situations,' he said. WA Health figures show that, as of June 15, there have been 8708 recorded influenza infections so far this year, more than double the 3760 cases this time last year. Of those 8708 cases, 1579 people have been admitted to hospital — more than double the 749 at the same time last year. COVID cases have also been climbing with an average of 156 people in hospital with the infection, as of June 15, after 148 people the previous week. Health experts warned a further spike of flu was expected in coming weeks as the middle of winter nears. WA chief health officer Andrew Robertson urged anyone feeling sick to look after themselves. 'Obviously they need to rest and if they become unwell, particularly if they have any other health issues, consider going to the GP and to our emergency department, noting that it is a busy time of year for all of our hospitals,' he said on Wednesday.