Volume 7, Number 5—October 2001
Dispatch
Wind-Blown Mosquitoes and Introduction of Japanese Encephalitis into Australia
Scott A. Ritchie*
and Wayne Rochester†
and Wayne Rochester†
Table
Number of days when winds could have carried mosquitoes from New Guinea to Badu Island in the Torres Strait and to the northern peninsula area and the mouth of the Mitchell River on Cape York Peninsulaa
| Badu Island (Torres Strait) | Northern peninsula area (Cape York) | Mouth of MitchellRiver (Cape York) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | No. of daysb | days (%) | days (%) | days (%) |
| 1994-95 | 121 | 8 (6.6) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| 1995-96 | 122 | 21 (17.2) | 7 (5.7) | 0 (0) |
| 1996-97 | 121 | 20 (16.5) | 8 (6.6) | 0 (0) |
| 1997-98 | 121 | 20 (16.5) | 11 (9.1) | 1 (0.8) |
| Mean | 121 | 17.3 (14.2) | 6.5 (5.4) | 0.25 (0.2) |
aBased on backtrack simulations done during the monsoon season (December to March) for the seasons 1994-95 through 1997-98.
bBacktrack-simulated flight path with one or more pixels completely within the New Guinea mainland (e.g., Figure 1).
Page created: April 26, 2012
Page updated: April 26, 2012
Page reviewed: April 26, 2012
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.