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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(1)

Links between dryland salinity, mosquito vectors, and Ross River Virus disease in southern inland Queensland—an example and potential implications

A. J. W. Biggs A B D and P. Mottram C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, PO Box 318, Toowoomba, Qld 3150, Australia.

B School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.

C Queensland Health, Communicable Diseases Branch, 147–163 Charlotte Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: andrew.biggs@nrw.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 46(1) 62-66 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR07053
Submitted: 10 May 2007  Accepted: 30 November 2007   Published: 8 February 2008

Abstract

The impacts of dryland salinity on landscapes and agriculture are well documented, but few links have been made to public health. A cluster of cases of Ross River Virus (RRV) disease in the vicinity of a dryland salinity expression in the town of Warwick, Queensland, has highlighted the potential role of secondary salinity expressions as breeding zones for mosquitoes, including vector species of RRV. It is suggested that further work is required to investigate the matter in Queensland, particularly in relation to the expansion of urban populations in south-east Queensland into old agricultural lands containing secondary salinity expressions.

Additional keywords: Ross River Virus, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) vigilax, Warwick, dryland salinity.


Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Warwick Shire Council, Shawn Darr (NRW), Mark Silburn (NRW), Dan Brough (NRW), Louis van Slobbe (WSC), Matthew Fraser (WSC) and Kathy Piotrowski (Qld Health).


References


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1Reported as the Warwick Statistical Local Area (SLA).