Wodonga Raiders’ midfielder Steve Jolliffe and former Lavington star Matt Pendergast have been diagnosed with the mosquito-borne infectious disease.

Albury premiership player Jay Koehler has also been struck down with the debilitating virus.

“I had a rash popped up, and with my body, I couldn’t really walk, this was a few weeks before Christmas,” Jolliffe said.

“I just thought it was because I was doing heaps of running on the road, but when I heard ‘Pender’ had it, I thought I’d better go get it checked and then I got the results of the blood test back last Wednesday and it was positive.”

The boom Raiders’ on-baller says it’s certainly affected his pre-season.

“After work I’m just tired and lethargic and drained of energy,” he said.

Pendergast, who left Lavington mid last year for work commitments and will now play up to 10 games with Rennie, first felt the effects in late November.

“You get soreness from football injuries, but I just knew this was different,” he said.

“Your whole body aches, parts that never ached before are aching.”

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District is calling on the public to be vigilant.

“Basically, the best way to avoid Ross River fever is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, that’s the bottom line,” acting director public health Alison Nikitas said.

“There is no cure for Ross River fever, some people get through it relatively well in a short period, while other people can have symptoms for quite some months and be quite debilitated.”

Mosquitoes are most active in the hours after sunset and again around dawn, with the public urged to cover up as much as possible.