Infant dies from Murray Valley encephalitis in Northern Territory's Big Rivers region

NT authorities are urging people to protect themselves from mosquitoes following another Murray Valley encephalitis death. (Flickr: James Gathany)

The second death in the Northern Territory from Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) this year and a sharp rise in cases of the disease has prompted health officials to reissue a warning for people to protect themselves and their children from mosquitoes.

MVE can be deadly in up to 30 per cent of cases, according to NT Health, and occurs after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the MVE virus.

The public health alert follows a death in the Big Rivers region, where officials say two infants, including the fatal case, contracted the disease recently.

The Big Rivers region spans 25 per cent of the Northern Territory's land area, it's northernmost border sitting about 200 kilometres south of Darwin and stretching far to the south, east and west.

It takes in the town of Katherine and dozens of remote communities. 

The Big Rivers region sits below the designated Top End region where Darwin is located. (Supplied: NT government)

The Big Rivers region. (Supplied: NT government)

Officials said there have now been four cases of MVE in the Northern Territory this year, with the locations for the other two cases listed at the Top End and Barkly districts.

They noted that only two cases had been recorded in the previous five years.

Symptoms of MVE include severe headaches, high fever, drowsiness, tremor, seizures (especially in young children), and in some cases the disease can progress to delirium, coma, permanent brain damage or death, according to NT Health.

There is an increased risk of contracting MVE between February and July in the Northern Territory, officials say, and most cases are detected between March and May.

In February health officials issued a similar public health alert for MVE after someone who likely contracted MVE in Darwin died from the virus.

NT Health advises the following precautions to protect adults and children from mosquitoes:

• Use a protective repellent containing DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD)
• Use an appropriate repellent for children (repellents are not recommended for children under 2 months of age)
• Wear light-coloured protective clothing (long sleeves, trousers, socks) when outdoors in mosquito prone areas and ensure that children's arms and legs are covered
• Avoid outdoor exposure around dusk and dawn, and at night near areas of dense vegetation or areas of high mosquito activity
• Use mosquito-proof accommodation and camping facilities at night
• Use mosquito coils, mosquito lanterns and barrier sprays containing bifenthrin in patio and outdoor areas near houses
• Use mosquito-proof netting over prams and strollers