Barmah Forest virus infection

Statutory notification

• Barmah Forest virus infection is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 208KB).
• 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: Barmah Forest virus.
• Transmission: mosquito-borne.
• Incubation period: 3 to 21 days.
• Infectious period: No evidence of direct person to person transmission.
• Case exclusion: Do not exclude, but cases should avoid being bitten by mosquitos while symptomatic to reduce the chance of spreading the infection.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Treatment: No specific anti-viral treatment. Symptomatic treatment only.
• Immunisation: None available.
• Case followup: is conducted by Local Government and Department of Health environmental health officers. See RRV and BFV follow-up questionnaire (PDF 1MB)

Information and resources for health providers

• See WA Department of Health mosquito management.

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports