New research led by James Cook University scientists shows Northern Queensland is facing an escalating public health threat from mosquito-borne virus activity, including dengue, Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses, posing an emerging public health concern.
Md. Eram Hosen, a PhD candidate in Associate Professor Subir Sarker's Tropical One Health Microbial Lab at JCU, said recent surveillance data indicates national mosquito-borne virus cases nearly doubled between 2023 and 2024, with trends continuing into 2025.
Mr Hosen said climate change is lengthening and intensifying transmission seasons while rapid urbanisation is providing abundant breeding habitats. He also highlighted Northern Queensland's proximity to Southeast Asia was further exacerbating transmission of mosquito-borne viruses (MBV).
"MBV cases surged in Northern Queensland and national totals almost doubled in 2024. In Queensland, reported cases included 1701 Ross River virus infections and 378 dengue cases, alongside detections of chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis viruses," said Mr Hosen.
A/Prof Sarker said Wolbachia-based control has been remarkably successfully in reducing dengue transmission, but the study shows broader MBV activity continues to rise, along with the likelihood that new viruses are circulating.
The study also highlights that more than 900 unclassified flaviviruses (viruses spread by ticks and mosquitoes) have been detected across Australia over recent decades, including over 100 in Queensland alone, pointing to likely gaps in current detection systems.
"While current PCR-based detection methods are effective, they are largely restricted to identifying known pathogens. Existing surveillance systems therefore remain limited, as their focus on predefined targets increases the risk that emerging or previously uncharacterised mosquito-borne viruses go undetected," said A/Prof Sarker.
He said an integrated public health response that combines expansion of Wolbachia-based control programs with next-generation sequencing - enabled genomic surveillance to enhance early detection, underpinned by strong community engagement was needed.
"We think these measures represent a promising, evidence-informed strategy to mitigate the rising MBV burden and strengthen regional biosecurity and public health from what is a rapidly growing threat both locally and globally," said A/Prof Sarker.
Link to paper here.
