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In short:2024 saw the highest number of mosquito-borne virus cases in Queensland in four years, according to the state health department.Cases of Ross River virus and the potentially deadly dengue fever more than tripledWhat's next?The state government will provide free Japanese encephalitis virus vaccines to at-risk residents and people are urged to take precautions to avoid getting bitten.Mosquito-borne virus cases almost tripled across Queensland in 2024 amid surges in cases of Ross River vir …

Mosquito-borne illnesses are a growing concern in Northeastern states, with health officials monitoring cases and advising residents to avoid outdoor activities near standing water and other environments prone to mosquito spread.Of particular concern is eastern equine encephalitis, a rare disease that can lead to serious and fatal illness, caused by mosquitoes carrying the virus.Known as EEE or “triple E,” the virus can cause disease in humans and animals such as horses and birds. It doesn’t spr …

Kimberley residents and travellers are being urged to protect themselves against mosquito bites, following the first Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) detection in the region this year.The Department of Health warning follows MVE virus being found in sentinel chicken flocks in the east Kimberley during the wet season.Sentinel chickens are used to monitor and provide an early warning system for mosquito-borne virus activity.WA Health’s Managing Scientist – Biological Hazards Dr Andrew Jardine said …

Artificial light abnormally increases mosquito biting behavior at night in a species that typically prefers to bite people during the day, according to research from the University of Notre Dame that was published in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.Increased biting by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which normally fly and bite in the early morning and during the afternoon, highlights the concern that increasing levels of light pollution could impact transmission of diseases such …