Cameron Webb

Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time as climate crisis warms country Three specimens discovered in what was previously one of the few places in the world without the insects

Climate change, the gift that keeps on giving.

I’ll assume that is sharing my pain (as opposed to the newly mosquito infested Iceland and their itchy bites) 🦟

Well, the good news is I can now set my sights on Antarctica! ❄️🦟🥶

Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time as climate crisis warms country Three specimens discovered in what was previously one of the few places in the world without the insects

I’m so angry! Someone beat me to one of the last great scientific discoveries on the planet. Mosquitoes ARE in Iceland. I knew it and was saving up for the field trip to prove it! https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/21/mosquitoes-found-iceland-first-time-climate-crisis-warms-country

Landscapes associated with Japanese encephalitis virus in Australia reflect the functional biogeography of waterbirds Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a zoonotic, mosquito-borne virus, has broad circulation across the Central Indo-Pacific biogeographical region (CIPBR) and has recently expanded dramatically within...

New work with my fantastic colleagues, Viki Brookes and @mozziebites.bsky.social - Landscapes associated with Japanese encephalitis virus in Australia reflect the functional biogeography of waterbirds: dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...

Away we go for another fieldwork season. Stay tuned for updates on mosquito wrangling in the swamps and stormwater drains of Sydney as the weather warms up! 🦟

Malaria has returned to the Torres Strait. What does this mean for mainland Australia? Two cases of locally acquired malaria have been reported in the Torres Strait. Here’s what you need to know.

Australia was declared free of malaria in the 1980s but cases of locally acquired disease are occasionally recorded in Torres Strait. Why? My latest for @aunz.theconversation.com https://theconversation.com/malaria-has-returned-to-the-torres-strait-what-does-this-mean-for-mainland-australia-258289

Heading to Bali or somewhere tropical these holidays? Here’s what you need to know about dengue fever If you’re traveling to a tropical destination to escape the Australian winter, make sure to take steps to protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease such as dengue.

Planning a trip to Bali (or other tropical destinations) in the upcoming school holidays? Revisit my @aunz.theconversation.com article about mosquito risk https://theconversation.com/heading-to-bali-or-somewhere-tropical-these-holidays-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-dengue-fever-233670

You can pick up our award winning guide to Australian mosquitoes for only $30 (discounted from $50) at the @csiropublishing.bsky.social stocktake sale https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/6391/ 🦟

Deep in the estuarine wetlands along the Tweed River. Good time to be out and in the mangroves and saltmarsh but no shortage of mosquitoes in a few places! 🦟

Mosquito activity has dropped over the past week but don’t be complacent as Barmah Forest virus has been detected in mosquitoes around Sydney in recent weeks https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/residents-warned-barmah-forest-virus-risk-0

Sending some good vibes from down here Don 🦟

Mosquito activity has dropped over the past week but don’t be complacent as Barmah Forest virus has been detected in mosquitoes around Sydney in recent weeks https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/residents-warned-barmah-forest-virus-risk-0

Is planting trees 'DEI'? Trump administration cuts nationwide tree-planting effort The Trump administration's efforts to end DEI programs is hitting some unexpected targets, including a nationwide effort planting shade trees in neighborhoods to reduce extreme heat.

The Trump administration's efforts to end DEI programs is hitting some unexpected targets, including a nationwide effort planting shade trees in neighborhoods to reduce extreme heat.

Larval competition between the invasive Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and the Caribbean endemic Aedes mediovittatus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Puerto Rico, USA Abstract. Competition between mosquito species during the larval phase is a well-established mechanism structuring container mosquito communities, with inv

🦟🧪Our paper on larval competition between Aedes aegypti and Aedes mediovittatus, a Caribbean endemic, is out! In it, we show that the endemic appears to be the superior competitor, and this may explain why Ae. aegypti is restricted to cities on the island. academic.oup.com/jme/article-...

Thanks for sharing! 🦟

Good thread on the Japanese encephalitis risk in Australia ⬇️

Also, lifting this up from the replies, there is free vaccination for those in at-risk settings www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/j...

Japanese encephalitis has claimed a second life in NSW and been detected in Brisbane. What is it? Japanese encephalitis spreads via mosquitoes. It has been detected in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs and claimed two lives in NSW. Here’s what you need to know about it.

#Australia 🇦🇺: " #JapaneseEncephalitis has claimed a second life in #NSW and been detected in #Brisbane. What is it?"🦟
by @mozziebites.bsky.social & Andrew van den Hurk @theconversation.com
theconversation.com/japanese-enc...

Japanese encephalitis virus - Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccination Vaccination is recommended for those at highest risk. Once fully vaccinated, it can take between 2 to 4 weeks for your body to develop a protective immune response to the disease, so if you’re eligibl...

You should be eligible for a JE vaccination given you work in a high mosquito activity area https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/jev/Pages/vaccination.aspx

Broadscale mosquito control may not be a practical option to reduce the risk of Japanese encephalitis virus but how the community accesses Japanese encephalitis vaccination will need to be reviewed for coming seasons. Surveillance of mosquitoes and arboviruses in urban areas must continue!

The detection of Japanese encephalitis in a coastal location AND a heavily populated urban environment should shift the way we assess public health risks and responses of health authorities. This not only includes SE QLD but also northern NSW...

In 2024-2025, JEV has been active despite low mosquito and waterbirds. General consensus was that MVEV (and consequently Japanese encephalitis virus) didn't pose a risk to coastal regions (including metropolitan areas) due to lower mosquito and waterbird populations in local environment...

Its generally thought that Japanese encephalitis virus appeared and spread so widely in 2021-202 due to the flooding brought on by arrival of La Nina conditions across Murray Darling Basin; this brought a boom in waterbird and mosquito activity. This theory aligns with what we know of MVEV...

Japanese encephalitis virus is a flavivirus and, notwithstanding dengue, there are two similar endemic viruses that inform much of what we know about likely transmission cycles: Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin viruses; MVEV causes serious disease with potential fatal outcomes...

Why is the discovery of Japanese encephalitis virus in mosquitoes collected from suburban Brisbane such a concern? It really upends our understanding of a group of mosquito-borne pathogens with life threatening consequences and how authorities around Australia should respond...

Okay SE QLD peeps, this is important. Japanese encephalitis can be fatal, and few of us will have any immunity to it. PLEASE take measures to avoid mozzie bites, and that includes cleaning up standing water after #Cyclone Alfred. Tip out pots, drain blocked gutters etc.

General consensus is that Culex annulirostris is the main vector but, to be honest, there is a lot to do to better understand the role of other mosquitoes. This is especially the case in coastal environments where more diverse vectors are found compared to inland regions

First wind, then rain. Next come the mozzies – here’s how to reduce your risk of bites and infections Flood waters boost mosquito numbers. Disease outbreaks don’t always follow but it’s important to remove stagnant water from your property to reduce the disease risk.

I flagged the concerns around post-flooding mosquito activity in this recent @aunz.theconversation.com article, not expecting JEV to be detected in Brisbane https://theconversation.com/first-wind-then-rain-next-come-the-mozzies-heres-how-to-reduce-your-risk-of-bites-and-infections-251260

Japanese encephalitis virus detected in Brisbane for the first time Queenslanders are being warned against getting bitten by mosquitoes after the Japanese encephalitis virus was found in Brisbane.

This is concerning. Japanese encephalitis virus detected in mosquitoes collected in suburban Brisbane. Disease caused by this virus is rare but can be life-threatening https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-16/japanese-encephalitis-virus-found-in-mosquitoes-in-brisbane/105056958

Sure is. Prior to the arrival of JEV in 2021-2022, it had been almost 50 years since someone died after a local mosquito bite in NSW.