Ross River virus is an arbovirus endemic to Australia and the Pacific Islands that causes a mosquito-borne infectious disease with arthropathy as a prominent clinical feature [1][3]. It is classified as a potential emerging infectious disease of global significance and is listed among the major mosquito-borne diseases of public health concern alongside dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses [5].
Disease overview
Ross River virus infection
罗斯河病毒感染
Evidence-backed informationEN 5/7 applicable sections · ZH 5/7 applicable sectionsUpdated Sep 3, 2026
Ross River virus (RRV) infection is the most common human arboviral disease in Australia, with a yearly estimated economic cost of $4.3 billion [1]. National notifications average 4,800 annually, and the disease is considered a potential emerging infectious disease worldwide [1][2]. Transmission dynamics are strongly shaped by climatic conditions, particularly temperature, which influences vector activity and seasonal duration [3][4].
Read the full clinical and epidemiological profile6
Infection in humans and horses can cause chronic, long-term debilitating arthritogenic illnesses [1]. However, current knowledge of immunopathogenesis remains to be elucidated and is mainly inferred from a murine model that only partially resembles clinical signs and pathology in human and horses [1].
RRV infection remains the most common human arboviral disease in Australia, with a yearly estimated economic cost of $4.3 billion [1]. An average of 4,800 national notifications occur annually, and the geographic distribution of mosquito species is determined largely by temperature and rainfall [2]. Vertical transmission contributes to the dynamics of MBD transmission and could influence disease outbreaks and endemism [5]. Warming is expected to increase transmission below thermal optima but decrease transmission above optima [4].
RRV is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, with Aedes and Culex species serving as the principal vectors [5]. Vertical transmission from infected mosquitoes to their offspring has been documented, contributing to viral maintenance in mosquito populations [5]. Climatic factors, especially temperature, are key drivers of transmission dynamics, with a pooled relative risk of 1.09 per 1 °C increase in certain climate zones [3]. Transmission peaks at 23–29 ºC and declines below 9–23 ºC and above 32–38 ºC [4].
There are no approved therapeutics or registered vaccines to treat or prevent RRV infection, although clinical trials of various potential drugs and vaccines are currently underway [1]. Key directions for future work include combining temperature effects with control measures and investigating climate adaptation and migration [4].
- 1Yuen KY et al. Ross River Virus Infection: A Cross-Disciplinary Review with a Veterinary Perspective. Pathogens. 2021 Mar 17. PMID: 33802851. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10030357.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33802851/
- 2Jacups SP et al. Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus infections: a review of history, ecology, and predictive models, with implications for tropical northern Australia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2008 Apr. PMID: 18279007. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2007.0152.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18279007/
- 3Damtew YT et al. Associations between temperature and Ross river virus infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence. Acta Trop. 2022 Jul. PMID: 35405101. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106454.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35405101/
- 4Mordecai EA et al. Thermal biology of mosquito-borne disease. Ecol Lett. 2019 Oct. PMID: 31286630. doi: 10.1111/ele.13335.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31286630/
- 5Mbaoma OC et al. Significance of vertical transmission of arboviruses in mosquito-borne disease epidemiology. Parasit Vectors. 2025 Apr 9. PMID: 40205559. doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06761-8.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40205559/
Coverage
Reporting countries and regions
Trends by reporting country
Monthly patterns over time
Data access
Page dataset index with source links and update metadata.
Official sourcesAuthority, cadence, notes9
Australia NINDSS
Australia
Australian national notifiable diseases surveillance dashboard.
Australia NINDSS — Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Australian Capital Territory, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — New South Wales
New South Wales, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for New South Wales, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Northern Territory
Northern Territory, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Northern Territory, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Queensland
Queensland, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Queensland, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — South Australia
South Australia, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for South Australia, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Tasmania
Tasmania, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Tasmania, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Victoria
Victoria, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Victoria, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Western Australia
Western Australia, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Western Australia, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.