Exotic mosquitoes a clear and present Zika and dengue danger for Australians
14 December:
Australia may be at risk of a widespread outbreak of Zika or dengue unless more is done to prevent the establishment of exotic mosquitoes that can carry these diseases in the country, according to a paper published today in the Sax Institute’s Public Health Research & Practice journal.
“While we can’t prevent people infected with Zika or dengue coming to Australia, we can prevent the establishment of exotic mosquitoes species (such as Aedes aegypti and the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus), so that widespread outbreaks can’t occur,” said lead author Dr Cameron Webb, Medical Entomologist at Sydney University and for NSW Health Pathology.
“We need to do more to make sure these exotic mosquitoes don’t establish themselves here.
“With many Australians travelling back and forth to South East Asia, particularly Bali, during the holidays there is a risk they will be exposed to mosquito-borne diseases. Worse still, it is very easy for people to unwittingly bring exotic mosquito eggs back into Australia via water bottles, vases or other belongings.
“If these exotic mosquito species find a way to our suburbs and become established, it creates the perfect conditions for a local outbreak of Zika or dengue.
“We need to do everything possible to prevent these mosquitoes from establishing themselves here in NSW and other parts of Australia. We need to expand strategic surveillance to include suburban areas as well as wetlands, so that we’re alerted as soon as possible to their presence. With local, State and Federal health authorities working closer together to respond to the discovery of these mosquitoes, we can ensure we remain free of any significant local disease outbreaks.”
Dr Webb has also investigated the safe and effective use of mosquito repellents in another Public Health Research & Practice paper, and recommended Australians at home and abroad should choose a repellent containing DEET, picaridin or ‘oil of lemon-eucalyptus’ rather than botanical extract-based repellents.
“With mosquito season beginning across most of the country and with many Australians planning to visit South East Asia during the holiday season, it’s essential that everyone knows the best ways to prevent mosquito bites. Repellents are a cheap, effective and safe ways to yourself, but you’ve got to choose and use the repellents properly to provide effective protection.
“Unless you are prepared to reapply every one to two hours, it’s safer to avoid botanical extract-based repellents available from health food stores, tackle shops and the ‘homebrews’ available from local markets. Despite the name, natural repellents are not necessarily a healthy alternative – not only do they not last as long, they’re more likely to cause skin irritation than chemical-based brands.
“Australians at home and abroad should instead choose a repellent containing DEET, picaridin or ‘oil of lemon-eucalyptus’. There are hundreds of different formulations to choose from in the supermarket or the pharmacy that will keep you and your family safe,” said Dr Webb.
The latest issue of the Sax Institute’s Public Health Research & Practice journal has a focus on emerging infectious diseases and their impact on public health, an issue that is of the utmost importance according to Guest Editor Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Director of Health Protection NSW.
“The unpredictability of infectious diseases means they are always challenging for health agencies and governments to manage, but it’s important that we are as prepared as possible to prevent and control outbreaks as new diseases emerge, and others re-emerge, across the globe,” Dr McAnulty said.
Download the papers:
- Exotic mosquito threats require strategic surveillance and response planning
- A review of recommendations on the safe and effective uses of topic mosquito repellents
Public Health Research & Practice is a peer-reviewed, Medline-listed quarterly online journal published by the Sax Institute. Subscribe for free at www.phrp.com.au/about-us/subscribe/
Please acknowledge the Sax institute’s Public Health Research & Practice as the source for any stories.
Other papers in this issue of Public Health Research & Practice include:
New methods of communication, such as social media or SMS, should be adopted to prompt early recognition of the signs and symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), and to help address potential barriers to people with IMD seeking help when acutely unwell in regional areas.
Australia’s response to Ebola virus disease in West Africa 2014–15
Three years since the beginning of the West African Ebola outbreak, Australia’s “Ebola Tsar” Gwendolyn Gilbert writes that our national response plan was never fully tested by actual Ebola cases and the lessons must not be forgotten before the next infectious disease emergency.
An analysis of thousands of social media comments on news stories in the wake of celebrity Chrissie Swan admitting smoking while pregnant has found that important health messages were lacking. Public health professionals need to engage directly in these forums, in this case to support and encourage women to quit smoking – not shame them.
‘Planetary Health’ approach needed in future pandemic research
Pandemic planning needs to widen its scope to involve animals and the environment, as well as humans, as new diseases emerge in a globalised world, according to researchers from the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity at the University of Sydney. The concept of ‘Planetary health’ needs to be adopted so that we can develop effective, pre-emptive pandemic plans, they say.
From plague to MERS – coordinating Australia’s response to emerging infectious diseases
Emerging infectious diseases present ongoing public health risks in Australia and internationally and a flexible, systematic national approach is vital for effective and coordinated future public health responses, according to an article co-authored by recently retired Australian Chief Medical Officer, Prof Chris Baggoley.
The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales has developed a new tool to support Aboriginal community-led efforts to control tobacco consumption, which includes ‘yarning’ topics to help communities talk about smoking cessation.
Lack of staff and funding has been blamed for a lack of availability of fall prevention programs specifically designed for, and delivered to, older Aboriginal people in NSW. Communication difficulties between health services are also thought to contribute to the shortfall.
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