Other mosquito borne diseases
The most common mosquito borne diseases in Queensland are Ross River Virus, Barmah Forest Virus and dengue.
While some mosquito borne diseases are locally acquired in Queensland, others are imported to Queensland when people acquire the disease travelling overseas and return unwell.
Notifiable mosquito borne diseases in Queensland
The following diseases are notifiable under the Public Health Act 2005:
Read about the public health management guidelines and plans for mosquito-borne diseases.
| Disease – symptoms, diagnosis and treatment fact sheets | Location | Queensland cases |
|---|---|---|
Found in most tropical areas of the world, outbreaks can occur in north and central Queensland. | Outbreaks can occur each year. Find out more about dengue in Queensland. | |
Occurs widely in Queensland and Australia. | Around 2000 cases are reported throughout the year with most between February and May. Occasionally larger outbreaks occur. | |
Occurs widely in Queensland and Australia. | There are over 400 cases of Barmah Forest virus reported in Queensland each year. | |
A small number of cases have occurred in Queensland. | Cases are rare in Australia, however vaccination is recommended for people living or working for more than a month on the outer islands of the Torres Strait during the wet season (December to May) and people who are at high risk of exposure to JEV. Further advice on vaccination eligibility is available at Japanese encephalitis | Australian Government Department of Health | |
Has occurred in some Queensland inland areas following extensive flooding. | Cases are rare in Queensland however a small number of cases have been reported over the past 10 years. | |
As at May 2018, there have only been imported cases (cases contracted overseas) of Chikungunya in Queensland. | Chikungunya has been diagnosed in travellers from affected countries who have recently arrived in Australia. Locally-acquired Chikungunya has not been detected in Australia (as at Feb 2020), however mosquitoes capable of transmitting the Chikungunya virus occur in north Queensland and some parts of central and southern Queensland. | |
Locally acquired cases are most likely to occur in north Queensland. | Locally acquired cases are rare. Most cases are reported in overseas travellers. | |
| West Nile virus kunjin subtype has been reported in Queensland. | West Nile virus kunjin subtype has been reported but at present remains uncommon. | |
Yellow fever does not occur in Australia. | Vaccination is a legal requirement for people entering Australia from parts of Africa and South America. | |
| Zika virus is mainly found in tropical areas of the world. A list of countries with ongoing transmission of Zika can be found on the Australian Department of Health website. | Zika virus is an emerging mosquito-borne disease globally. It has been diagnosed in Queensland in travellers returning from affected countries. The same mosquitoes that transmit dengue and chikungunya also transmit Zika virus. These mosquitoes are found in north Queensland and some parts of central and southern Queensland. Read about the current status of Zika virus in Queensland. |