This report summarises NSW vector-borne disease (VBD) surveillance data for notifiable arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) and other notifiable arthropod-borne diseases in humans for 2020 to 2021. The report notes changes in notifications over time and describes likely areas of disease acquisition for both local and exotic infections.
NSW Health undertakes VBD surveillance to monitor VBD trends with the aim of implementing control measures to prevent further illness within the community from endemic local VBDs (such as Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus), and to inform appropriate prevention messages for travellers to areas of the world with exotic vector-borne diseases (such as dengue, chikungunya, malaria and Zika virus).
Epidemic Typhus
Further information on notifications for particular vector-borne diseases is available - see Infectious diseases data and select the condition of interest. Various data filters are available, including date range, age-group, gender and local health district.
Surveillance of VBD infections in humans is supported by local mosquito and sentinel chicken surveillance activities under the NSW Arbovirus and Mosquito Monitoring Surveillance Program. Annual arbovirus and vector monitoring surveillance reports are published by the Environmental Health Branch during the arbovirus season (from late spring to early autumn).