Will Japanese encephalitis return this summer? What about other diseases mosquitoes spread?
- Written by Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney
The last two summers have been swarming with mosquitoes thanks to near constant rain and flooding brought on by La Niña.
With the return of El Niño, and a hot, dry summer in store, what’s the outlook for Japanese encephalitis and other mosquito-borne diseases?
First, let’s look back at the last two summers
The boom in mosquitoes over the last two springs and summers didn’t just bring an increased annoyance of buzzing and bites but also outbreaks of potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease.
The first outbreak of Japanese encephalitis virus was first detected in southern regions of mainland Australia in February 2022.
This was followed by the return of Murray Valley encephalitis in early 2023, which turned out to be the biggest outbreak in the southern states since 1974.
These outbreaks were the result of more than just more mosquitoes. Floodwaters provided ideal breeding conditions for waterbirds, the key “reservoirs” of these viruses.
Mosquitoes pick up the infection after feeding on the birds and then subsequently spread the viruses to people when they bite.
What’s different about Japanese encephalitis?
Outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis virus in temperate regions of Australia in 2022 came as a surprise. There had been activity in northern Australia and the Torres Strait, but it was generally only considered a risk to overseas travellers.
In India, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific, Japanese encephalitis is considered one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases, with tens of thousands of cases of severe infection each year.
While the majority of people infected suffer no or very mild symptoms, some will experience neck stiffness, fever, headache and, in the most severe cases, permanent neurological complications or death.
However, a vaccine is available that can significantly limit serious illness.
Read more: What is Japanese encephalitis virus and how can I avoid it when I travel?
The discovery of Japanese encephalitis virus in Australia’s southern states triggered a declaration of a “communicable disease incident of national significance”. This was in place from March 2022 through June 2023. A total of 45 people were infected, seven of whom sadly died.
It wasn’t just people who were at risk. The impact on commercial piggeries, which farm pigs for pork production, was devastating and required urgent strategies to control mosquitoes.
Piggeries weren’t the source of the outbreak, they were the “canaries in the coalmine” – signalling the spread of the virus early on and the need to protect the broader community.
What caused outbreaks in piggeries?
Our research investigated how different landscapes and weather patterns influence interactions between wildlife, mosquitoes, and outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis virus.
We looked at 62 piggeries where the virus had been detected and some locations where the virus had also been detected in mosquitoes, along with waterbird and feral pig habitats, rainfall and temperature.
Some of the results were unexpected. Piggeries were at highest risk of an outbreak when the number of different waterbird species in their location was “just right”. If there were too few or too many, the risk of an outbreak was reduced.
High rainfall and flooding provided excellent conditions for mosquitoes, with temporary wetlands and flooded areas posing a greater risk than permanent wetlands.
Temporary wetlands may have provided habitat for waterbirds whose normal habitat and movement patterns were disrupted due to the extensive La Niña flooding.
Or perhaps permanent wetlands support a greater diversity of aquatic life (including animals that eat mosquitoes) that helped keep mosquito numbers lower than temporary waterbodies.
So what might happen this summer?
The return of El Niño is expected to bring below average rainfall and above average temperatures. But that can be unpredictable. Wetlands are already drying up. Bushfires have replaced floods.
Mosquito populations are expected to decline sharply. Surveillance programs of state and territory health authorities, such as New South Wales and Victoria, are already reporting mosquito populations far lower than previous seasons.
So we may not see as much Japanese encephalitis this season. But that doesn’t mean it will disappear completely.
It doesn’t matter how hot and dry it gets, mosquitoes are resilient and will persist. They’ll seek out the same environments where water remains. So too will waterbirds and feral pigs.
Authorities are also on alert for the return of Ross River virus along the coast. Despite the lower rainfall, the mosquitoes that live in saltwater wetlands will thrive following flooding by high tides, especially “king tides”.
Combined with extreme weather, even during hot and dry summers, outbreaks of Ross River virus can occur.
Read more: How Australian wildlife spread and suppress Ross River virus
How can you reduce your chance of getting these viruses?
To protect yourself and family from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne disease:
Read more: Insect repellents work – but there are other ways to beat mosquitoes without getting sticky
Authors: Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney
