Another wet summer raises concerns of Japanese encephalitis outbreaks

A leading mosquito-borne virus expert says back-to-back La Niña seasons are bringing a heightened risk of Japanese encephalitis to the southern states.

Associate Professor Greg Devine, group leader of mosquito control at QIMR Berghofer, says Japanese encephalitis has become "endemic" in southern Queensland and New South Wales – regions that had only ever seen sporadic cases prior to last year.