A sixth person has been diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis in NSW.
The confirmed case is a man in his 60s from the Balranald area in the Riverina region, who is being treated in a Victorian hospital.
NSW Health is urging the community to stay vigilant and take precautions against mosquito bites.
Several more people in NSW are undergoing further testing for the virus, which is spread by mosquitoes and can infect animals and humans.
A total of 18 cases have been documented across Australia in NSW, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Friday announced $69 million in funding to control the spread of the virus. The money will go towards purchasing vaccines and mosquito surveillance and control activities.
The virus cannot be transmitted between humans and cannot be caught by eating pork or other pig products.
There is no specific treatment for the virus, which can cause severe neurological illness with headache, convulsions and reduced consciousness in some cases.
NSW Health said the best thing people can do to protect themselves and their families against the disease is to take steps to avoid mosquito bites.
Recommended precautions include avoiding the outdoors, bushland and wetlands at peak mosquito times at dawn and dusk.
Other protection measures include wearing long sleeves and pants, socks and shoes, and insecticides such as permethrin.
The use and reapplication of repellent (DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus), mosquito nets for children and mosquito coils are also advised.
Health authorities also suggest emptying and reducing all water-holding containers around the house.
