Key points
- Ross River virus infection can cause swollen or painful joints, fever, rash, and fatigue.
- If you think you or a family member might have Ross River virus disease (Ross River), talk with your healthcare provider.
- There are no specific medicines to treat Ross River.
- Rest, fluids, and pain medications might relieve symptoms.
Symptoms
Many people infected with Ross River virus have no symptoms. For people with symptoms, the time from an infected mosquito bite to feeling sick (incubation period) is usually 7 to 9 days but can range from 3 to 21 days.
- Symptoms can include swollen or painful joints, fever, rash, and fatigue.
- Death from Ross River has never been reported.
Diagnosis
Talk to your healthcare provider if you are sick and have recently traveled to an area where Ross River virus might be present including Australia, Papua New Guinea, and some South Pacific Islands.
- Tell your healthcare provider when and where you traveled.
- Your healthcare provider can order blood tests to look for Ross River virus or other viral infections that can cause similar symptoms.
To learn more about testing, visit our Healthcare Providers page.
Treatment
- There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Ross River.
- Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medicines might relieve some symptoms.
- Some patients might need to be hospitalized for intravenous fluids and supportive care for pain, fever, or other related problems.
To learn more about treatment, visit our Healthcare Providers page.