This report describes the epidemiology of mosquito-borne disease in Australia for the mosquito-borne disease season 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. Ross River virus (RRV) infections (45%), Barmah Forest virus (BFV) infections (30%) and malaria (19%) were the most common mosquito-borne diseases reported in 2004-05. The Northern Territory had the highest rate of RRV notifications and the peak notification rate (in February 2005) was 54 per cent less than the previous season. The Northern Territory also reported the highest BFV notification rate this season, peaking in April 2005, which was the second highest reported BFV notification rate since 1998. National RRV and BFV notification rates were highest in the 45-49 year age group. There were 799 notifications of malaria in 2004-05 of which none were reported as locally acquired. This was the third highest reporting season for malaria notifications since 1998. In contrast to previous years in which Plasmodium vivax was the predominant species, Plasmodium falciparum was reported as the infecting species in 57 per cent of the malaria notifications and Plasmodium vivax for 34 per cent of cases. Children in the 5-9 year age group had the highest number of cases compared to previous years in which the peak number of cases tended to be in young adult age groups. There were four cases of Kunjin virus (KUNV) and two cases of Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) reported in 2004-05. Sentinel chicken surveillance data for flaviviruses and sentinel pig surveillance data for Japanese encephalitis virus are reported. There were 188 notifications of dengue virus infection (DENV) in 2004-05, of which 46 per cent (n=86) were reported as having been acquired overseas. Dengue serotype 4 was the most frequently reported type, accounting for 32 per cent of cases (n=60).

This report describes the epidemiology of mosquito-borne disease in Australia for the mosquito-borne disease season 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, which was moderately low compared to previous seasons. Ross River virus (RRV) infections (55%), Barmah Forest virus (BFV) infections (29%) and overseas acquired malaria (11%) were the most common mosquito-borne diseases reported in 2006–07. The number, proportion and rate of national BFV notifications were the second highest on record since 1998-99. The Northern Territory reported the highest BFV notification rate this season. BFV notification rates were the highest in the 40-59 year age groups when compared to other age groups. National RRV notifications were the fifth largest on record. The number, proportion and rate of RRV notifications were moderately low this season compared with previous seasons. The highest RRV rate was reported by Western Australia from the Kimberley region. The highest age-specific RRV notification rate was observed in the 40-59 year age groups. Locally acquired dengue virus notifications were low this season compared to previous seasons, with a small outbreak of dengue serotype 3 in 39 cases confined to the greater Townsville region. There were 640 notifications of malaria in 2006–07 of which none were reported as locally acquired. This was the third highest number of malaria notifications since 2001. Plasmodium falciparum was reported as the infecting species in 47 per cent of the malaria notifications and Plasmodium vivax for 40 per cent of cases. Young adolescent and adults in the 15–29 year age group had the highest number of cases accounting for 32 per cent of notifications. Sentinel chicken surveillance data for flaviviruses and sentinel pig surveillance data for Japanese encephalitis virus are also reported.

The Medical Entomology Annual Report 2008/09 is intended to present an overall picture of DHF mosquito surveillance and control activities carried out in the Northern Territory in 2008/09. In addition, specific figures and tables for regional towns that are not presented in this report, have been produced for Alyangula, Nhulunbuy, Jabiru, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs to provide local officers with the detailed information from local programs. These tables and figures are available on request.

The Medical Entomology Annual Report 2009-10 is intended to present an overall picture of DHF mosquito surveillance and control activities carried out in the Northern Territory in 2009/10.

The Medical Entomology Annual Report 2010/11 is intended to present an overall picture of DoH mosquito surveillance and control activities carried out in the Northern Territory in 2010/11.

The Medical Entomology Annual Report 2011/12 is intended to present an overall picture of DoH mosquito surveillance and control activities carried out in the Northern Territory in 2011/12.

Services provided by Medical Entomology (ME) aim to reduce the impact of biting insects on the people of the Northern Territory (NT). These include the prevention of the re-introduction of malaria, the prevention of the introduction of exotic mosquito vectors of dengue, insecticide and engineering programs for mosquito control, mosquito surveillance programs in the major towns, guidelines and advice on biting insects for both large and small scale developments, a public inquiry service, a public awareness program, and incidental research on biting insects and mosquito borne viruses.