Presumptive case of fatal Murray Valley encephalitis acquired in Alice Springs

A presumptive case of Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) acquired in Alice Springs in March 1997 is r eported. The patient subsequently died in Mackay. The diagnosis of Murray Valley Encephalitis was supported by t he detection of flavivirus IgM in cerebrospinal fluid. Low titres of IgM specific to Murray Valley Encephalitis and Alfuy were detected in a single serum sample. The patient’s travel movements indicate that his infection was a cquired in the Alice Springs vicinity. This conclusion was further supported by the detection of Murray Valley Enc ephalitis activity in sentinel animals in the area and by the presence of large numbers of the principal mos q uito vector of Murray Valley Encephalitis in the Northern Territory . Comm Dis Intell 1998;22:103-104