Investigating the role of waterbirds in the emergence and spread of JEV in Australia – a report by Birdlife Australia.

The unexpected emergence and spread of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) in Australia in 2022 prompted the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) to begin investigations into the wildlife origins and mechanisms of spread of the virus.  

Given the role of waterbirds as primary hosts of JEV, this report undertaken by Birdlife Australia investigates the potential role of waterbirds in the 2022 outbreak and puts forward recommended activities to contribute to knowledge of waterbird movements, population structures and dynamics. These will help inform epidemiological models of host-disease dynamics in the waterbird hosts and the mechanisms causing maintenance and amplification of arboviruses in Australia. 

The full report can be found here.