A La Niña climate event-associated major wet season in Northern Australia raises the spectre of a surge in mosquito-borne viral diseases in tropical north Queensland

A perfect storm is brewing for the forthcoming Australian summer to be a record season for mosquito numbers, and therefore potentially also for recorded cases of mosquito-transmitted viral (‘arboviral’) diseases. The reasons are multiple, involving early starting and sustained rainfall, indications of a La Niña climate effect in the region, combined with increased exposure due to people being outside during the southern hemisphere vacation period.