Population health aspects of mosquito-borne disease in New South Wales

Abstract

Human pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes pose a significant threat to population health in New South Wales. Within the State, there is annual activity of Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus, occasional activity from Kunjin virus and Sindbis virus, and rare epidemics of Murray Valley encephalitis virus. For the traveller, dengue and malaria are constant threats. The focus of this article will be the mosquito-borne viruses (the ‘arboviruses’), including the factors that influence their activity in New South Wales, how they affect the community, and the future threats they pose to population health in the State.