NSW Vector-Borne Diseases Annual Report - 2017

Summary

This report summarises NSW vector-borne disease (VBD) surveillance data for notifiable arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) and other notifiable arthropod-borne diseases for 2017. The report notes changes in notifications over time and describes likely areas of disease acquisition for both local and exotic infections.

NSW Health undertakes VBD surveillance to monitor VBD trends with the aim of implementing control measures to prevent further illness within the community from endemic local VBDs (such as Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus), and to inform appropriate prevention messages for travellers to areas of the world with exotic vector-borne diseases (such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika and malaria).

Key trends in 2017

• Ross River virus – dramatically increased notifications, escalating from the increased notifications seen in December 2016; largest RRV outbreak of recent years, predominantly affecting southern inland areas of the state
• Chikungunya virus – continued the upward trend in notifications; predominantly Bangladesh and India travel
• Dengue virus – decreased notifications; India most common source country; DENV-2 most common serotype
• Barmah Forest virus – increased notifications but continued low activity overall
• Malaria – increased notifications; India the most common source country but increased reporting of acquisition in countries in Africa, particularly associated with P.falciparum infections
• Zika virus – markedly decreased notifications, coinciding with resolving ZIKV outbreaks overseas.

Further information

Further information on notifications for particular vector-borne diseases is available - see the Infectious Diseases Data page and select the condition of interest. Various data filters are available, including date range, age-group, gender and local health district.

Surveillance of VBD infections in humans is supported by local mosquito and sentinel chicken surveillance activities under the NSW arbovirus and vector monitoring surveillance program. Annual arbovirus and vector monitoring surveillance reports are published by the Environmental Health Branch during the arbovirus season (from late spring to early autumn).​​​​