View source for Medicine:Barmah Forest virus

{{short description|Species of virus}}
{{Virusbox
| image = emd-1886.png
| image_alt = BFV
| image_caption = Structure of Barmah Forest virus by cryo-electron microscopy. {{PDBe|EMD-1886}}<ref name=pmid1>{{cite journal
|last1=Kostyuchenko |first1=Victor A. |last2=Jakana |first2=Joanita |last3=Liu |first3=Xiangan |last4=Haddow |first4=Andrew D. |last5=Aung |first5=Myint |last6=Weaver |first6=Scott C. |last7=Chiu |first7=Wah |last8=Lok |first8=Shee-Mei |name-list-style=amp |date=2011 |title=The Structure of Barmah Forest Virus as Revealed by Cryo-Electron Microscopy at a 6-Angstrom Resolution Has Detailed Transmembrane Protein Architecture and Interactions |journal=Journal of Virology |volume=85 |issue=18 |pages=9327–9333 |doi=10.1128/JVI.05015-11 |pmid=21752915 |pmc=3165765}}</ref>
| parent = Alphavirus
| species = Barmah Forest virus
}}

'''''Barmah Forest virus''''' is an [[Biology:RNA virus|RNA virus]] in the genus ''[[Biology:Alphavirus|Alphavirus]]''. This disease was named after the Barmah Forest in the northern Victoria region of {{wipe|Australia}}, where it was first isolated in 1974.<ref name="Cashman-2008">{{cite journal |last1=Cashman |first1=Patrick |last2=Hueston |first2=Linda |last3=Durrheim |first3=David |last4=Massey |first4=Peter |last5=Doggett |first5=Stephen |last6=Russell |first6=Richard C. |name-list-style=amp |date=2008 |title=Barmah Forest virus serology: implications for diagnosis and public health action |url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi3202j.htm |journal=Communicable Diseases Intelligence |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=263–266 |pmid=18767428 |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="Victoria-DOH">{{cite web |title=Barmah Forest Virus Disease |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=25 November 2020 |url=https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/barmah-forest-virus-disease |website=Department of Health, Victoria |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> It is passed to [[Biology:Vertebrate|vertebrate]] hosts almost exclusively by mosquitoes,<ref name="Smith-2011">{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=David W. |last2=Speers |first2=David J. |last3=Mackenzie |first3=John S. |name-list-style=amp |date=2011 |title=The viruses of Australia and the risk to tourists |journal=Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=113–125 |doi=10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.05.005 |pmid=21679887}}</ref> the first case in humans being documented in 1986.<ref name="Hueston-2013">{{cite journal |last1=Hueston |first1=Linda |last2=Toi |first2=Cheryl S. |last3=Jeoffreys |first3=Neisha |last4=Sorrell |first4=Tanya |last5=Gilbert |first5=Gwendolyn |name-list-style=amp |title=Diagnosis of Barmah Forest virus infection by a nested real-time SYBR green RT-PCR assay |journal=PLOS ONE |date=2013 |volume=8 |issue=7 |page=E65197 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0065197 |doi-access=free |pmid=23935816 |pmc=3720699|bibcode=2013PLoSO...865197H}}</ref> {{As of|2023|post=,}} it is widespread in Australia and there is some evidence of local transmission in Papua New Guinea.<ref name="Horwood-2019">{{cite journal |last1=Caly |first1=Leon |last2=Horwood |first2=Paul F. |last3=Vijaykrishna |first3=Dhanasekaran |last4=Lynch |first4=Stacey |last5=Greenhill |first5=Andrew R. |last6=Pomat |first6=William |last7=Rai |first7=Glennis |last8=Kisa |first8=Debbie |last9=Bande |first9=Grace |last10=Druce |first10=Julian |last11=Abdad |first11=Mohammad Y. |name-list-style=amp |date=2019 |title=Divergent Barmah Forest Virus from Papua New Guinea |journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases |volume=25 |issue=12 |pages=2266–2269 |doi=10.3201/eid2512.191070 |doi-access=free |pmid=31742504 |pmc=6874237 |issn=1080-6059}}</ref><ref name="Kizu-2023">{{cite journal |last1=Kizu |first1=Joanne G. |last2=Graham |first2=Melissa |last3=Grant |first3=Richard |last4=McCallum |first4=Fiona |last5=McPherson |first5=Brady |last6=Auliff |first6=Alyson |last7=Kaminiel |first7=Peter |last8=Liu |first8=Wenjun |name-list-style=amp |date=2023 |title=Prevalence of Barmah Forest Virus, Chikungunya Virus and Ross River Virus Antibodies among Papua New Guinea Military Personnel before 2019 |journal=Viruses |volume=15 |issue=2 |page=394 |doi=10.3390/v15020394 |pmid=36851608 |pmc=9966107 |doi-access=free |issn=1999-4915}}</ref>

Although there is no specific treatment for infection with the Barmah Forest virus, the disease is non-fatal and most infected people recover.<ref name=pmid1 /><ref name=queensland>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=12 October 2017 |title=Barmah Forest Virus |url=http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/14/217/190/barmah-forest-virus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524023307/http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/14/217/190/barmah-forest-virus |archive-date=24 May 2023 |website=Queensland Government |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> The virus has gradually spread from the sub-tropical northern areas of Victoria to the coastal regions of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia (WA). People are more likely to contract the disease in summer and autumn in Australia. In the south west of WA, however, spring has been found to have the highest incidence.<ref name="Hueston-2013"/>

==Transmission==
The virus can only be transmitted to humans by bites from infected [[Biology:Mosquito|mosquito]]es. A number of mosquito species have been associated with [[Biology:Vector (epidemiology)|vectoring]] the virus, including the ''[[Biology:Aedes vigilax|Aedes vigilax]]'' and ''[[Biology:Culex annulirostris|Culex annulirostris]]'' mosquito species.<ref name=NaishWetland>{{cite journal |last1=Naish|first1=S.|last2=Mengersen|first2=K.|author2-link= Kerrie Mengersen |last3=Hu|first3=W.|last4=Tong|first4=S.|title=Wetlands, climate zones and Barmah Forest virus disease in Queensland, Australia.|journal=Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene |date=2012
|volume=106 |issue=12|pages=749–755|doi=10.1016/j.trstmh.2012.08.003|pmid=23122869|url=https://eprints.qut.edu.au/58274/3/58274.pdf}}</ref> Direct contact with an infected person or animal does not cause infection.<ref name=wahealth /> The virus is hosted mainly by [[Biology:Marsupial|marsupial]]s, especially [[Biology:Phalangeriformes|possums]], [[Biology:Kangaroo|kangaroo]]s and [[Biology:Wallaby|wallabies]].<ref name=queensland />

==Symptoms==
Symptoms include [[Medicine:Fever|fever]], malaise, rash, [[Medicine:Arthralgia|arthralgia]], and muscle tenderness. Fever and malaise generally disappear within a few days to a week, but other symptoms such as joint pain may continue for six months or longer.<ref name=pmid1 /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/controlguideline/Pages/barmah-forest.aspx|title=Barmah Forest virus control guideline - Control guidelines|website=www.health.nsw.gov.au}}</ref>

The Barmah Forest virus causes similar symptoms as the [[Medicine:Ross River virus|Ross River virus]], although they usually persist longer in persons infected with the latter.<ref name=queensland /><ref name=wahealth>[http://www.kwinana.wa.gov.au/Images/Ross-River-Virus-and-Barmah-Forest-Virus-in-WA.aspx Ross River Virus & Barmah Forest Virus in WA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321051057/http://kwinana.wa.gov.au/Images/Ross-River-Virus-and-Barmah-Forest-Virus-in-WA.aspx |date=2012-03-21 }}. ''Environmental Health Directorate''. Department of Health, Western Australia 2006. Retrieved 16 February 2012.</ref>

Most people may recover within a few weeks, but the minority can continue to have the symptoms for many months, and in the most severe cases, up to a year. A full recovery will be expected.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Barmah Forest virus infection - symptoms, treatment and prevention :: SA Health |url=http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/health+topics/health+conditions+prevention+and+treatment/infectious+diseases/barmah+forest+virus+infection/barmah+forest+virus+infection+-+symptoms+treatment+and+prevention |website=www.sahealth.sa.gov.au |access-date=2015-04-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419093101/http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public%2Bcontent/sa%2Bhealth%2Binternet/health%2Btopics/health%2Bconditions%2Bprevention%2Band%2Btreatment/infectious%2Bdiseases/barmah%2Bforest%2Bvirus%2Binfection/barmah%2Bforest%2Bvirus%2Binfection%2B-%2Bsymptoms%2Btreatment%2Band%2Bprevention |archive-date=2015-04-19 }}</ref>

==Diagnosis==
The Barmah Forest virus is diagnosed by examination of blood serum collected from potentially infected people.<ref name="Hueston-2013"/>

== Documented cases ==
Barmah Forest virus is the second most prevalent [[Medicine:Arbovirus|arbovirus]] in Australia.<ref name=NaishWetland /> It is causing an epidemic [[Medicine:Polyarthritis|polyarthritis]] throughout the country.<ref name="Ehlkes-2012">{{cite journal |last1=Ehlkes |first1=Lutz |last2=Eastwood |first2=Keith |last3=Webb |first3=Cameron |last4=Durrheim |first4=David |name-list-style=amp |date=2012 |title=Surveillance should be strengthened to improve epidemiological understandings of mosquito-borne Barmah Forest virus infection |journal=Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=63–68 |doi=10.5365/WPSAR.2012.3.1.004 |pmid=23908926 |pmc=3730995}}</ref> No known deaths have been caused as a result of Barmah Forest virus. It can affect all people regardless of age, gender or ethnicity.{{cn|date=April 2023}}

During the years of 1995–2008, 15592 cases of Barmah Forest virus were recorded in Australia. Of these, Queensland recorded the highest number of cases being 8050, which was over 50% of all cases.<ref>{{Cite journal |title = Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Barmah Forest Virus Disease in Queensland, Australia|journal = PLOS ONE|date = October 13, 2011 |pmc = 3192738|pmid = 22022430 |pages = e25688|volume = 6|issue = 10|doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0025688|first1 = Suchithra |last1 = Naish |first2 = Wenbiao |last2 = Hu |first3 = Kerrie|last3 = Mengersen|first4 = Shilu|last4 = Tong|bibcode = 2011PLoSO...625688N|doi-access = free}}</ref> In 2011, 1855 people were diagnosed with Barmah Forest virus.<ref name=NaishForecast>{{cite journal|last1=Naish|first1=S.|last2=Mengersen|first2=K.|last3=Hu|first3=W.|last4=Tong |first4=S. |title=Forecasting the future risk of Barmah Forest virus disease under climate change scenarios in Queensland, Australia|journal=PLOS ONE |date=2013 |volume=8 |issue=5 |page=E62843|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0062843 |pmid=23690959 |pmc=3655130|bibcode=2013PLoSO...862843N|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In recent years, there has been an increasing number of Barmah Forest virus cases in Australia. This increase could be as a result of urban development and changes to land and irrigation practices which ultimately allow for increased mosquito breeding, resulting in more outbreaks.<ref>{{Cite journal |title = Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Barmah Forest Virus Disease in Queensland, Australia |last = Naish|first = Suchithra|date = 2011|journal = PLOS ONE|doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0025688|pmid = 22022430 |issue = 10|volume = 6|page = e25688|pmc=3192738|bibcode = 2011PLoSO...625688N |doi-access = free}}</ref>

==Prevention==
The type of mosquito that transmits the virus can alter: the best way to ascertain an area is affected is by contact with local Health Officers. Precautions include:
* Removing water build-up to stop mosquitos from breeding.
* In the afternoon and early evening wear light coloured clothing which is loose fitted.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus - the facts - Infectious Diseases Epidemiology & Surveillance - Department of Health and Human services, Victoria, Australia |url = http://ideas.health.vic.gov.au/diseases/ross-river-and-barmah-forest-virus.asp |website = ideas.health.vic.gov.au |access-date = 2015-04-16}}</ref>
* Regular use of insect repellent which can be used against mosquitos on exposed skin.
* 'Knock-down' insecticide before bed to clear out your house.
* Insect screening, including fireplaces, in hot weather.

== Treatment ==
There is currently no specific treatment for the virus. The only treatment is trying to control and get rid of the symptoms that may occur. A doctor will advise and give treatment for the joint and muscle pain which involves resting and gentle exercise (to keep joints moving) . Medication may sometimes be necessary, but not always.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barmah Forest Virus - Queensland Health |url=http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/InfectionsandParasites/Viralinfections/barmahForestVirus_fs.asp |website=access.health.qld.gov.au |access-date=2015-04-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323073248/http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/InfectionsandParasites/ViralInfections/barmahForestVirus_fs.asp |archive-date=2015-03-23 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{cite web|url=http://phene.cpmc.columbia.edu/EntVir/Data/www/73001004.htm |title=ICTVdB Virus Description—00.073.0.01.004. Barmah Forest virus |access-date=2008-03-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429074235/http://phene.cpmc.columbia.edu/EntVir/Data/www/73001004.htm |archive-date=2010-04-29 }}
* [http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/ross%20river%20&%20barmah%20forest.htm Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913201908/http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/ross%20river%20%26%20barmah%20forest.htm |date=2008-09-13 }}
* [http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/14/217/190/Barmah-Forest-Virus Queensland Public Health Services: Barmah Forest Virus]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/01/01/1136050346207.html Mozzies carrier of 'emerging virus']

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3560914}}

[[Category:Insect-borne diseases]]

{{Sourceattribution|Barmah Forest virus}}