Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne arbovirus endemic to the Asia-Pacific that causes high morbidity and mortality in those who develop symptomatic disease. Prior to 2021, only five locally acquired cases had been detected in Australia, all in northern Australia. Following a sentinel case in 2021, widespread dissemination of JEV was detected in northern and south-eastern Australia, accompanied by an increase in locally acquired cases, which have been detected as far south as Victoria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: It has been a decade since a landmark Lancet publication declared that 'climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century'. Since then, Australia has experienced unprecedented warming related to climate change and an associated increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, storms, bushfires and air pollution. These events have had major impacts on community physical and mental health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF