27 MAY: A mosquito-borne disease known as Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) is being blamed for the death of a Canadian tourist this week shortly after she arrived home from a holiday in Australia.
The 19-year-old was rushed to hospital early in the week, but died on Wednesday after falling into a coma, according to a report in the Northern Territory News.
She had been travelling in the Top End and Central Australia during the first weeks of May.
A medical expert said the timing of her illness made it clear that the teenager contracted the disease in the NT.
The NT News report says higher than average rainfall in recent months means the risk of MVE and related diseases extends across the Territory until at least July.
Symptoms include severe headache, high fever, drowsiness, tremor and seizure - in some cases progressing to a coma.
Authorities warn that visitors to the Territory and children are among those most at risk.
