What will drive increased risk of mosquito-borne disease in the future? Climate change, globalisation, or how we manage our local wetlands and wildlife? This presentation, from Thursday 27 February 2014, was part of the “Anticipating infectious threats to Australia” coordinated by the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Disease and Biosecurity (University of Sydney). http://sydney.edu.au/mbi/news/2014/anticipatinginfectiousthreats.php

1. What are the future endemic &
exotic mosquito-borne disease
threats to Australia?
Dr. Cameron Webb
Department of Medical Entomology
Marie Bashir Institute of Infectious Disease & Biosecurity, University of Sydney &
Pathology West – ICPMR Westmead
Westmead Hospital, Westmead NSW 2145
@mozziebites

2. What will drive future
risks of mosquito-borne
disease in Australia?
Climate?
Urbanisation?
Wetland conservation?
Globalisation?

3. Over 5000 cases of
mosquito-borne Ross
River and Barmah
Forest virus infection
are reported each year
Photo: Richard Russell

4. Future mosquito-borne
disease risk will be
determined by more than
just temperature, tides
and rainfall
Drivers of outbreaks may
include wildlife
conservation, wetland
rehabilitation, urban
development & mosquito
control activities

5. Dengue is quickly
becoming the most
important mosquitoborne disease globally
1.
2.
1.
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/teng-selangor-to-cooperate-with-health-ministry-to-address-dengue
2. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-12/an-malaysia-warns-of-spike-in-dengue-fever-cases/5254086

6. Dengue is an
increasing threat to
Australia
Future risk
determined by
distribution of
suitable vector/s and
importation of
pathogens

7. Human movement has
been, and will continue
to be, one of the most
important factors driving
new vector and
pathogen activity

8. Rates of mosquito-borne infections
in returning Australian travellers
have steadily increased since 1991
Knope et al. 2013. Increasing notifications of dengue in Australia related to overseas
travel 1991-2012. CDI 37: 55-59

9. The Asian Tiger Mosquito has benefited from international
trade and travel and is now found pretty much everywhere
except mainland Australia…
Benedict et al. 2007. Spread of the tiger: Global risk of invasion by the mosquito Aedes albopictus.
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases 7: 76-85
Bonizzoni et al. 2013. The invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus: current knowledge and future perspectives
Trends in Parasitology 29: 460–468
Alain Delorme. http://www.alaindelorme.com/works-totems
Stephen Doggett (Medical Entomology, Pathology West – ICPMR Westmead)

10. Can we vaccinate
mosquitoes against
dengue? (or use
other high tech
solutions to control
mosquitoes or the
spread of viruses?)
www.eliminatedengue.com

11. What does all this mean?
When it comes to the future risk of
mosquito-borne disease in
Australia, perhaps the climate change
debate is a distraction from what we
need.
Surveillance. Management. Education.
www.cameronwebb.wordpress.com/
@mozziebites