The rising threat of Ross River virus: Climate change and its implications on public health in Australia

<p dir="ltr">The escalating impact of alphaviruses, particularly Ross River Virus (RRV), represents a growing public health challenge, especially in Australia and the broader Southern Pacific region. Initially identified in the 1950s in Ross River, Townsville, Queensland, RRV has not only remained the predominant mosquito-borne disease in Australia but has also extended its reach to Papua New Guinea and even as far as Indonesia, Fiji, Samoa, the Moluccas, Vietnam and New Caledonia during a major outbreak in the 1980s. The urgency to intensify efforts against RRV is driven by heightened risks from climate change, urbanization, and global travel, which continue to increase transmission risks beyond the peak season.</p>