Mosquito-borne disease threat in north WA

Two potentially severe, mosquito-borne illnesses have been detected in WA's north, prompting a warning from authorities.

WA Health's senior scientific officer Andrew Jardine said there had been a confirmed detection of Murray Valley encephalitis in the east Kimberley region and probable detections of MVE and Kunjin virus in the Pilbara.

"While no human cases of MVE or Kunjin have been reported in WA since 2011, evidence of the viruses has now been detected in sentinel chicken flocks, which are used as an early warning system for virus activity," Dr Jardine said.