Healthdirect Australia is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.
Close-up image of mosquito biting human skin to help illustrate mosquito-borne diseases.
Mosquito-borne diseases
Barmah Forest virus
This illness is transmitted by mosquitoes and found only in Australia. Learn about the symptoms of, and treatment options for, Barmah Forest virus.
Chikungunya virus
Chikungunya virus is found mainly in Africa and Asia, so if you're travelling to these areas it's important to prevent mosquito bites.
Dengue fever
This illness can feel like a bad case of flu. Dengue fever is found in tropical and sub-tropical areas in Africa, Asia, South America and Australia.
Elephantiasis
Elephantiasis is a tropical disease spread by mosquito bites that can cause arms and legs to swell and the skin to become hard and thick.
Malaria
This disease is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, which causes an infection of the red blood cells. Discover more about malaria.
Murray Valley encephalitis
This rare illness is caused by a mosquito-borne virus found in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Learn about its symptoms and prevention.
Ross River virus
Ross River virus is carried by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, rash and joint pain — but most people recover in a few weeks. Learn more here.
Yellow fever
Vaccination is recommended for yellow fever — a serious disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes in areas of Africa, and Central and South America.
Zika virus
Learn more about the Zika virus, and why it's advisable for pregnant women to avoid travelling to countries with outbreaks.
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
Ross River virus infection | SA Health
Ross River virus infection is spread by mosquitoes from infected animals to humans - a distinctive and distressing feature of infection is joint pain
Read more on SA Health website
Japanese encephalitis | SA Health
Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection of the human brain caused by the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus spread to humans by mosquito bites
Read more on SA Health website
Malaria overview - MyDr.com.au
Malaria is a serious mosquito-borne disease that is caused by a parasitic infection of the red blood cells.
Read more on myDr website
Japanese encephalitis fact sheet - Fact sheets
Japanese encephalitis fact sheet
Read more on NSW Health website
Barmah Forest virus fact sheet - Fact sheets
Barmah Forest virus is transmitted to people by being bitten by a mosquito that is infected with the virus. Symptoms include fever, rash and sore joints. Avoiding mosquito bites prevents infection.
Read more on NSW Health website
Yellow fever - MyDr.com.au
Yellow fever is a vaccine-preventable illness of varying severity caused by an infection with a virus spread by certain mosquitoes.
Read more on myDr website
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease which causes bleeding, jaundice, kidney and liver failure and which is primarily spread by mosquitoes.
Read more on WA Health website
Zika virus - Better Health Channel
betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Ross River virus — Arthritis Australia
Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus are infections that are spread to humans through mosquito bites
Read more on Arthritis Australia website
Dengue fever - MyDr.com.au
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical areas, including north Queensland. Most people recover fully, but the severe form - dengue haemorrhagic fever - can be fatal.
Read more on myDr website
Top results
Barmah Forest Virus Infection | Ausmed
Barmah Forest virus infection is one of the most common mosquito-borne infections in Australia (along with the Ross River virus infection). On average, between 1500 and 2000 fresh cases are notified each year. Outbreaks are related to higher temperatures, high rainfall and flooding.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Know the Risks of Ross River Virus Infection | Ausmed
Ross River virus (RRV) infection, also known as Ross River fever or epidemic polyarthritis, is endemic in Australia, Papua New Guinea, parts of Indonesia and several islands in the South Pacific. It is the most common arbovirus in Australia. More than 40 species of mosquito can carry RRV.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Murray Valley Encephalitis | Ausmed
The Murray Valley encephalitis virus was first isolated in an epidemic in 1951. In 1974, the only Australia-wide outbreak occurred, involving 58 cases of encephalitis and resulting in about 20% of cases dying. The virus is endemic in Northern Australia but rarely affects humans.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
What is Dengue? (Mosquito Transmitted Diseases) | Ausmed
Dengue is a mosquito-transmitted virus that causes dengue fever, a flu-like illness. It is estimated to affect up to 400 million people worldwide every year and is most commonly transmitted through a bite from an Aedes aegypti mosquito. It is not endemic in Australia, but there are imported cases.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Malaria: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention | Ausmed
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. At least 200 million people are infected with malaria every year, with an estimated 400,000 deaths annually.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
