People who live or work on the outer islands of Torres Strait are recommended to receive JE vaccine

Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccination is recommended for:

residents of the outer islands in Torres Strait
non-residents who will be living or working on the outer islands of Torres Strait for a cumulative total of 30 days or more during the wet season (December to May)

JE virus transmission in Torres Strait usually peaks in February and March. Timing of vaccination in residents should consider age, time of year, vaccine schedule and recent epidemiology.

People who do not need to be vaccinated are those who are:

arriving in the outer islands in May, because this is late in the wet season and after the risk period for transmission
visiting the outer islands in the dry season (June to November)
visiting only the inner islands, including Thursday Island

People who are at ongoing risk of being infected by JE virus may need booster doses.

The need for a booster dose of JE vaccine depends on:

the person’s age when they received their primary vaccination course
the vaccine used for the primary course

See Table. Recommended doses of Japanese encephalitis vaccines.

Avoiding mosquitoes

All travellers to risk regions of Australia should understand the importance of avoiding mosquitoes. This is an important step towards reducing the risk of JE and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Ways to avoid mosquito bites include:

using insect repellents containing diethyltoluamide (DEET), picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and applying according to manufacturer’s instructions
using mosquito nets (preferably insecticide-treated nets)
minimising outdoor exposure when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dusk and dawn
wearing loose clothing that covers exposed skin, including feet
using insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units and mosquito coils to repel mosquitoes (mosquito coils should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas)
covering windows and doors with insect screens and checking there are no gaps
removing stagnant water or items that may collect water, and covering rainwater and septic tank openings