Station worker's 'remarkable' recovery from rare Murray Valley encephalitis
A young station worker who contracted a rare mosquito-borne virus while working in outback Queensland is making a remarkable recovery after a four-month battle for survival.
Isaac Pearce spent 126 days in intensive care after becoming infected with Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) while working near Normanton, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, early this year.
The 25-year-old walked out of the Townsville University Hospital ICU last week, and will continue his rehabilitation at Rockhampton Hospital.
Mr Pearce is one of just three people in Queensland to be infected with the deadly disease in the past five years, Queensland health figures show.
Mr Pearce's mother, Mel Jones, said her son had to learn to walk again.
"His stomach stopped working, he couldn't swallow, and it's messed with his heart," she said.
Mr Pearce was found unconscious after complaining of a headache while working at a cattle station.
He was flown to Townsville Hospital on February 14 , with swelling and inflammation of the brain, and placed on life support.
Mr Pearce thanked the medical staff who helped him pull through.
"It was pretty rough and even though I was a bit mean sometimes, people still cared," he said.
Townsville Hospital and Health Service ICU clinical director Siva Senthuran described the recovery as "remarkable".
Infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist Professor Paul Griffin said MVE was one of a number of mosquito-borne viruses that could, in rare cares, cause inflammation of the brain.
Professor Griffin said mortality rates could be up to 20 per cent, and noted experts were concerned about a rise in mosquito-borne diseases, as the climate changed.
"There can be lasting consequences, including not returning to the same level of brain function afterwards or even not surviving that infection," he said.
"It's a timely reminder to take steps to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes where we see activity of this virus."
Dr Senthuran said while it would take months for Mr Pearce to recover, he was progressing faster than expected.
Mr Pearce said his transfer to Rockhampton Hospital would mean he could continue his recovery closer to his home and family in Gladstone.
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