Climate change, the gift that keeps on giving.

Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time as climate crisis warms country

Three specimens discovered in what was previously one of the few places in the world without the insects

theguardian.com

I’m so angry! Someone beat me to one of the last great scientific discoveries on the planet. Mosquitoes ARE in Iceland. I knew it and was saving up for the field trip to prove it! https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/21/mosquitoes-found-iceland-first-time-climate-crisis-warms-country

Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time as climate crisis warms country

Three specimens discovered in what was previously one of the few places in the world without the insects

theguardian.com

New work with my fantastic colleagues, Viki Brookes and @mozziebites.bsky.social - Landscapes associated with Japanese encephalitis virus in Australia reflect the functional biogeography of waterbirds: dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...

Landscapes associated with Japanese encephalitis virus in Australia reflect the functional biogeography of waterbirds

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a zoonotic, mosquito-borne virus, has broad circulation across the Central Indo-Pacific biogeographical region (CIPBR) and has recently expanded dramatically within...

dx.doi.org

Away we go for another fieldwork season. Stay tuned for updates on mosquito wrangling in the swamps and stormwater drains of Sydney as the weather warms up! 🦟

Australia was declared free of malaria in the 1980s but cases of locally acquired disease are occasionally recorded in Torres Strait. Why? My latest for @aunz.theconversation.com https://theconversation.com/malaria-has-returned-to-the-torres-strait-what-does-this-mean-for-mainland-australia-258289

Malaria has returned to the Torres Strait. What does this mean for mainland Australia?

Two cases of locally acquired malaria have been reported in the Torres Strait. Here’s what you need to know.

theconversation.com

Planning a trip to Bali (or other tropical destinations) in the upcoming school holidays? Revisit my @aunz.theconversation.com article about mosquito risk https://theconversation.com/heading-to-bali-or-somewhere-tropical-these-holidays-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-dengue-fever-233670

Heading to Bali or somewhere tropical these holidays? Here’s what you need to know about dengue fever

If you’re traveling to a tropical destination to escape the Australian winter, make sure to take steps to protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease such as dengue.

theconversation.com

You can pick up our award winning guide to Australian mosquitoes for only $30 (discounted from $50) at the @csiropublishing.bsky.social stocktake sale https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/6391/ 🦟

CSIRO Publishing@csiropublishing.bsky.social · last yr.

Have you checked out our Stocktake Sale? 👀 It's our biggest one yet! Get up to 70% off over 100 titles. Browse the catalogue: www.publish.csiro.au/catalogues/Stocktake

Deep in the estuarine wetlands along the Tweed River. Good time to be out and in the mangroves and saltmarsh but no shortage of mosquitoes in a few places! 🦟

Mosquito activity has dropped over the past week but don’t be complacent as Barmah Forest virus has been detected in mosquitoes around Sydney in recent weeks https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/residents-warned-barmah-forest-virus-risk-0

Mosquito activity has dropped over the past week but don’t be complacent as Barmah Forest virus has been detected in mosquitoes around Sydney in recent weeks https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/residents-warned-barmah-forest-virus-risk-0

The Trump administration's efforts to end DEI programs is hitting some unexpected targets, including a nationwide effort planting shade trees in neighborhoods to reduce extreme heat.

Is planting trees 'DEI'? Trump administration cuts nationwide tree-planting effort

The Trump administration's efforts to end DEI programs is hitting some unexpected targets, including a nationwide effort planting shade trees in neighborhoods to reduce extreme heat.

npr.org

🦟🧪Our paper on larval competition between Aedes aegypti and Aedes mediovittatus, a Caribbean endemic, is out! In it, we show that the endemic appears to be the superior competitor, and this may explain why Ae. aegypti is restricted to cities on the island. academic.oup.com/jme/article-...

Larval competition between the invasive Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and the Caribbean endemic Aedes mediovittatus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Puerto Rico, USA

Abstract. Competition between mosquito species during the larval phase is a well-established mechanism structuring container mosquito communities, with inv

academic.oup.com

Good thread on the Japanese encephalitis risk in Australia ⬇️ Also, lifting this up from the replies, there is free vaccination for those in at-risk settings www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/j...

Japanese encephalitis virus - Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccination

Vaccination is recommended for those at highest risk. Once fully vaccinated, it can take between 2 to 4 weeks for your body to develop a protective immune response to the disease, so if you’re eligibl...

health.nsw.gov.au

Cameron Webb@mozziebites.bsky.social · last yr.

Why is the discovery of Japanese encephalitis virus in mosquitoes collected from suburban Brisbane such a concern? It really upends our understanding of a group of mosquito-borne pathogens with life threatening consequences and how authorities around Australia should respond...

#Australia 🇦🇺: " #JapaneseEncephalitis has claimed a second life in #NSW and been detected in #Brisbane. What is it?"🦟 by @mozziebites.bsky.social & Andrew van den Hurk @theconversation.com theconversation.com/japanese-enc...

Japanese encephalitis has claimed a second life in NSW and been detected in Brisbane. What is it?

Japanese encephalitis spreads via mosquitoes. It has been detected in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs and claimed two lives in NSW. Here’s what you need to know about it.

theconversation.com

Why is the discovery of Japanese encephalitis virus in mosquitoes collected from suburban Brisbane such a concern? It really upends our understanding of a group of mosquito-borne pathogens with life threatening consequences and how authorities around Australia should respond...

Okay SE QLD peeps, this is important. Japanese encephalitis can be fatal, and few of us will have any immunity to it. PLEASE take measures to avoid mozzie bites, and that includes cleaning up standing water after #Cyclone Alfred. Tip out pots, drain blocked gutters etc.

Cameron Webb@mozziebites.bsky.social · last yr.

This is concerning. Japanese encephalitis virus detected in mosquitoes collected in suburban Brisbane. Disease caused by this virus is rare but can be life-threatening https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-16/japanese-encephalitis-virus-found-in-mosquitoes-in-brisbane/105056958

This is concerning. Japanese encephalitis virus detected in mosquitoes collected in suburban Brisbane. Disease caused by this virus is rare but can be life-threatening https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-16/japanese-encephalitis-virus-found-in-mosquitoes-in-brisbane/105056958

Japanese encephalitis virus detected in Brisbane for the first time

Queenslanders are being warned against getting bitten by mosquitoes after the Japanese encephalitis virus was found in Brisbane.

abc.net.au

An alert from NSW Health after the second death from Japanese encephalitis this season in NSW. Avoid mosquito bites and check eligibility for access to vaccination https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20250314_01.aspx

I know all the headlines about the recent Japanese Encephalitis death in NSW state “a man from Sydney” but please keep in mind that there is currently no evidence the virus is active in mosquitoes along the east coast (inc. Sydney). https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20250225_01.aspx

News - NSW records first death of person with Japanese encephalitis since 2022

NSW Health continues to urge the public to be vigilant and take precautions against mosquitoes as NSW records its first death of a person with Japanese encephalitis (JE) since May 2022.

health.nsw.gov.au

First death of a person with Japanese encephalitis in NSW since 2022. If you live, work or holiday in regions west of Great Dividing Range, prevent mosquito bites. Check NSW Health website https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20250225_01.aspx

Scientists working on a blood test to detect mosquito-borne Oropouche virus among those dismissed. ⬇️ 🔗 Ax falls on elite group of Ph.D.s training to lead U.S. public health labs

Reminder to residents and visitors to Queensland to get vaccinated if you’re eligible. The vaccine is free but you may have to pay a consultation fee. www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-pra...

“Scientists worry that the losses may open the door to human, plant and animal diseases that would otherwise have been caught.” https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/health/trump-border-health-inspections.html?smid=url-share

Trump Administration Has Fired Health Inspectors at Some Border Stations

Scientists worry that the losses may open the door to human, plant and animal diseases that would otherwise have been caught.

nytimes.com

“Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) has been detected at two Queensland piggeries. Biosecurity Queensland issued an alert confirming detections of the virus in the state's south” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-18/japanese-encephalitis-virus-queensland-piggeries/104949206

Japanese encephalitis virus detected at two Queensland piggeries

A rare but serious mosquito-borne virus that can spread to humans has been found at two Queensland piggeries.

abc.net.au

A day in a different kind of wetland…

People who live, work or visit certain areas within Queensland and who are at risk of mossie bites are eligible for JEV vaccination. There was a case of locally-acquired JEV infection in Qld reported in the period 06-19 January. www.qld.gov.au/health/condi...

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a serious infection of the brain caused by a virus that can be spread by some (but not all) types of mosquitoes.

qld.gov.au

It’s ’Mosquito Monday’ so meet Aedes alternans (aka Hexham Grey), one of the largest (and prettiest?) of Australia’s mosquitoes. Learn more in our @csiropublishing.bsky.social guide https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/6391/

First case of Japanese encephalitis reported in NSW for this season; take steps to avoid mosquito bites if you live in or are visiting western NSW https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20250215_00.aspx

There’s a feeling in the air this week that hints at a change in season, hard to put my finger on what exactly it is…but I like it. Fingers crossed the cooler weather makes an early return!

Good morning. Despite the forecast for a miserable week ahead weather wise, I managed to enjoy a few moments of calm this morning along the Georges River 🦟