| australian x disease, murray valley encephalitis and the french connection. | epidemics of a severe encephalitis occurred in eastern australia between 1917 and 1925, in which over 280 cases were reported with a fatality rate of 68%. the disease had not been described previously and was called australian x disease. the next epidemic occurred in south-east australia in the summer of 1950-51. the disease was given its name of murray valley encephalitis as this was the area from which most cases were reported. a virus was isolated by eric french in victoria, and about the sam ... | 1995 | 8545982 |