Mosquitoes - the threat expands with a warmer climate

The Summer warnings in NSW in early 2017 of the potential for an outbreak of Ross River Fever again underscores the risks posed by pathogens carried by mosquitoes who readily benefit from warmer and moister weather. Ross River Fever was first isolated in the Ross River region near Townsville, Queensland, over half a century ago. Since that time the condition has been identified as being fairly endemic across Australia in warmer regions and in near neighbouring countries such as Papua New Guinea. During periods of colder temperatures the risk is minimised as the carrier mosquitoes are limited in their breeding cycle however with milder temperatures, longer Summers and intense periods of storm activity with higher humidity, the mosquito's geographic range is expanded. Matched with a longer breeding season due to these same conditions, the propensity for greater disease outbreaks is very real.

Across the planet similar concerns are being expressed in relation to various species of mosquito which are vectors for a range of dangerous pathogens either endangering life or causing serious debilitating effects.  Only a handful of the known 3,500 species of mosquito feed on human blood and these are only female as male mosquitoes live off plants. This handful are, nonetheless, devastating in impact for diseases such as malaria alone kills over 400,000 people a year. The chief culprits are listed on the table below: 

Mosquito species	Pathogens carried
Aedes aegypti Found in cities, this species feeds almost exclusively from human blood.	Zika virus Chikungunya Yellow Fever Dengue Fever
Aedes albopictus An aggressive, adaptable species which can colonise the habitats of other mosquitoes.	Zika virus Chikungunya Dengue fever
Haemagogus A major carrier of yellow fever, they can be identified by their metallic sheen.	Yellow Fever
Anopheles This species has long front feelers and is the only genus that transmits malaria.	Malaria Lymphatic filariasis
Culex quinquefasciatus Common around the world, this species are night feeders and lay their eggs in dirty water.	Lymphatic filariasis West Nile fever

Zika virus has become the most recent addition to the list of dangerous pathogens in North and South  America but it is not alone. In Brazil, Mayaro, a monkey virus is now infecting people in the North West of that country as a result of mosquito transmission. As much of the debate on climate change focusses on energy generation and adaptation technology and design, an equal amount of effort is needed on examining the public health ramifications across a range of impacts. Ultimately these may have a much earlier effect.