A new arbovirus in northern Australia

Abstract

Routine arbovirus surveillance has unearthed a number of novel viruses circulating in domestic and wild animals in northern Australia. One of these is a new virus named Middle Point orbivirus (MPOV). While its disease potential remains unknown, evidence suggests that this virus emerged quite recently in Australia and it has now become the single most commonly isolated animal virus in the Northern Territory. The discovery of MPOV highlights the importance of obtaining prototype data on novel Australian viruses.