Ross River virus at Surf Beach

A carpenter from Surf Beach has joined the ranks of Phillip Islanders who have tested positive to the Ross River virus.

He joins Glenn Heil from Wimbledon Heights and two men from Cape Woolamai who confirmed they’ve been diagnosed, with Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) advising there were nine confirmed cases in the shire.

Bass Coast Shire Council and Bass Coast Health were both unaware of the outbreak until contacted by the Advertiser.

Thirty-two-year-old Nick Bateman from Surf Beach said his symptoms appeared a fortnight before Christmas, but initially he thought they were caused by a work injury.

“I cut my finger at work and I though it was infected and septic arthritis had set in. After five days, I couldn’t walk, my ankles were all swollen. My toes, my fingers, my wrists, my knees … all swollen.”

He went to the Health Hub in Cowes, and like the other islanders the Advertiser spoke to (see January 28 edition), Ross River virus wasn’t considered as a possible cause for his symptoms.

This is despite DHHS issuing a Ross River virus health warning for Gippsland and other areas of the state in early November.

“They gave me a blood test, but didn’t test for Ross River,” Nick said.

Despite being in “so much pain”, he was sent home without any medication.

“I’ve only lived here for about eight months, so I went back to my normal doctor on the Peninsula,” said Nick.

“I had a blood test there for Ross River virus.”

His doctor prescribed a course of steroids and “that’s the only thing that keeps me working”, Nick said.

“If I stop taking them, I can’t work.”

Nearly six weeks after his symptoms first appeared, Nick said they are still strong.

“If I don’t take the steroids, the symptoms flare up again.”

With his course of steroids about to run out, Nick said he’ll have to rely on Panadol and fish oil to manage the symptoms.

“I still go surfing, but it’s a struggle. Every joint hurts.”

Nick believes he was probably bitten somewhere on Phillip Island.

“I have no memory of being bitten, but there’s always mosquitoes at the back door of the house when I feed the dog at night.”

Like Glenn Heil, Nick believes more should have been done to warn the community of the danger.

“If there was a warning, I would have put RID on if I was outside at night.”

Previously, a DHHS spokesperson told the Advertiser that Ross River virus can occur in most parts of Victoria.

“A Chief Health Officer advisory was issued to alert the community in the south west of Victoria to take personal measures to avoid mosquito bites after surveillance showed high mosquito numbers and presence of virus in the mosquitoes."

The current warning on the HealthVic website, last updated on January 20, specifically mentions Surf Coast, Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula.

There is no mention of Phillip Island or Bass Coast.

Bass Coast Shire Council’s program of monitoring or baiting mosquitos, has not run for the last five years, as a council spokesperson said there had been no local mosquito-borne health issues.