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. 2014 Jul;91(1):109-118.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0455. Epub 2014 May 5.

Epidemiologic patterns of Ross River virus disease in Queensland, Australia, 2001-2011

Weiwei Yu, Kerrie Mengersen, Pat Dale, John S Mackenzie, Ghasem Sam Toloo, Xiaoyu Wang, Shilu Tong

Epidemiologic patterns of Ross River virus disease in Queensland, Australia, 2001-2011

Weiwei Yu et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Ross River virus (RRV) infection is a debilitating disease that has a significant impact on population health, economic productivity, and tourism in Australia. This study examined epidemiologic patterns of RRV disease in Queensland, Australia, during January 2001-December 2011 at a statistical local area level. Spatio-temporal analyses were used to identify the patterns of the disease distribution over time stratified by age, sex, and space. The results show that the mean annual incidence was 54 per 100,000 persons, with a male:female ratio of 1:1.1. Two space-time clusters were identified: the areas adjacent to Townsville, on the eastern coast of Queensland, and the southeast areas. Thus, although public health intervention should be considered across all areas in which RRV occurs, it should specifically focus on high-risk regions, particularly during summer and autumn to reduce the social and economic impacts of RRV infection.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Location and climate of Queensland, Australia.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Time trend of monthly case of Ross River virus disease by sex, Queensland, Australia, 2001–2011.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Annual spatial trend of Ross River virus disease in Queensland, Australia, 2001–2011. White color indicates extremly high incidence because of low population.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Annual spatial distribution of the predicted relative risk of Ross River virus disease, Queensland, Australia, 2001–2011, by using a conditional autocorrelation model.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Top, Relative risks of Ross River virus (RRV) disease in Queensland, Australia (all statistical local areas [SLAs]). Bottom, Time series of the 11 high-risk SLAs using a conditional autocorrelation model.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Space-time clusters of Ross River virus risks in Queensland, Australia, 2001–2011.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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