Managing the threats of mosquito-borne disease in Australia requires an understanding of mosquito populations as well as their associations with local wetlands and wildlife. Urban planning can play a role too in exposing the community to increased mosquito risk and predisposing urban environments to the introduction of exotic mosquitoes. This presentation provides key slides included in the talk titled "Reducing the burden of endemic vector-borne disease in Australia: The role of urban planing, wetland rehabilitation and wildlife conservation" given at the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity 2014 Colloquium, 25 November 2014. http://sydney.edu.au/mbi/news/2014/2014-colloquium.php

1. Reducing the burden of endemic vector-borne
disease in Australia: The role of urban planning,
wetland rehabilitation and wildlife conservation
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

3. Australia has annual
activity of endemic
mosquito-borne pathogens
Over 5000 cases of Ross
River and Barmah Forest
virus infection are reported
each year
Photo: Richard Russell (University of Sydney)

4. Managing urban wetlands
requires balancing
environmental threats and
public health risks
Webb CE (2012) Using urban planning to reduce mosquito-borne disease. The Conversation.
https://theconversation.com/using-urban-planning-to-reduce-mosquito-borne-disease-8430

5. Estuarine wetlands and urbanisation

6. Rehabilitation and mosquito risk

7. Wildlife as important as wetlands

8. Mosquito-borne disease risk in urban estuaries
Parramatta River estuary [2 RRV detections & no confirmed RRV cases]
Georges River estuary [>30 RRV detections & confirmed RRV cases]

9. Wildlife protection & mosquito-borne disease risk
1. Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) Toby Hudson (Creative Commons via Wikipedia)
2. SMEC Pty Ltd (2011) “Northern Beaches Roadkill – Advice on reduction options” Prepared for the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales

10. Urban birds and mosquito surveillance
Jansen CC et al (2009). Blood Sources of Mosquitoes Collected from Urban and Peri-Urban Environments in Eastern
Australia with Species-Specific Molecular Analysis of Avian Blood Meals. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and
Hygiene, 81: 849-857.
Jansen CC et al (2009) Arboviruses isolated from mosquitoes collected from urban and periurban areas of eastern
Australia. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 25: 272-278.
Image: JJ Harrison

11. Mosquito control and ecological impacts
Gonsalves L, Lamb S, Webb C, Law B, Monamy V (2013) Do mosquitoes influence bat activity in
coastal habitats? Wildlife Research 40(1) 10-24
Gonsalves L, Law B, Webb C, Monamy V (2013) Foraging Ranges of Insectivorous Bats Shift
Relative to Changes in Mosquito Abundance. PLOS ONE 8(5): e64081
Gonsalves L, Bicknell B, Law B, Webb C, Monamy V (2013) Mosquito Consumption by Insectivorous
Bats: Does Size Matter? PLOS ONE 8(10): e77183
Bat & Mosquito illustration by Golly Bard. www.gollybard.etsy.com

12. Regional approaches to mosquito risk

13. Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW), 31 December 1927

14. Photo: Stephen Doggett (Medical Entomology, Pathology West – ICPMR Westmead)

15. Webb 2015. Are we doing enough to promote the effective use of mosquito repellents?
Medical Journal of Australia [in press]

16. Thank you!
Join the conversation
Online: http://cameronwebb.wordpress.com
Email: Cameron.Webb@health.nsw.gov.au
Follow me on Twitter: @mozziebites