Communicable Diseases Network Australia National Arbovirus and Malaria Advisory Committee annual report, 2005-06

This report describes the epidemiology of mosquito-borne disease in Australia for the mosquito-borne disease season 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, in which the second largest number of notifi cations since 1995–96 was reported. Ross River virus (RRV) infections (66%), Barmah Forest virus (BFV) infections (23%) and malaria (9%) were the most common mosquito-borne diseases reported in 2005–06. National RRV notifi cations were the fi fth largest on record. The Northern Territory had the highest rate of RRV notifi cations and the peak notifi cation rate (in January 2006) was the third highest since 2000. National BFV notifi cation rates were the highest on record. The Northern Territory also reported the highest BFV notifi cation rate this season, peaking in February–March 2006, which was the highest reported BFV notifi cation rate on record. BFV notifi cation rates were signifi cantly higher in teen agers compared to previous seasons. There were 731 notifi cations of malaria in 2005–06 of which none was reported as locally acquired. This was the third highest reporting period for malaria notifi cations since 2000. In contrast to previous years in which Plasmodium vivax was the predominant species, Plasmodium falciparum was reported as the infecting species in 45 per cent of the malaria notifi cations and Plasmodium vivax for 42 per cent of cases. Young adults in the 20–24 year age group had the highest number of cases and children in the 5–9 year age group accounted for 22 per cent of notifi cations. There were two cases of Kunjin virus (KUNV) infection and one case of Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) infection reported in 2005–06, all from Western Australia. Sentinel chicken surveillance data for fl aviviruses and sentinel pig surveillance data for Japanese encephalitis virus are reported. There were 200 notifi cations of dengue virus (DENV) infection in 2005–06, of which 46 per cent (n=92) was reported as having been acquired overseas. Dengue serotypes 2 and 3 were detected in two outbreaks of locally-acquired dengue in Queensland this season. Commun Dis Intell 2006;30:411–429.