Diseases can be spread or triggered by pests such as mosquitos, other insects, rodents or microbes.
‘One Health’ is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. One Health involves the public health, veterinary and environmental sectors working together to prevent, predict, detect and respond to health threats such as COVID-19, leptospirosis and Q fever.
Some examples of significant public health problems caused by pests include:
Zoonoses
A zoonosis is an infectious disease that has spread from an animal to humans. Zoonoses may be bacterial, viral or parasitic, and can spread through direct contact or through food, water or the environment.
Zoonoses include diseases such as:
- Bat Lyssavirus
- Brucellosis
- Leptospirosis
- Psittacosis and
-
Q fever.
All of these conditions are notifiable to the Public Health Unit.
Useful links
Mosquito borne disease
The Public Health Unit also investigates mosquito borne diseases including Barmah Forest, Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, Ross River and Zika.
Within Western Sydney most cases of mosquito borne disease are acquired overseas.
But there is potential for local transmission of Ross River and Barmah Forest virus as the mosquitos which spread these diseases are found within the urban fringes of Sydney.
We participate annually in the NSW Health mosquito surveillance program in partnership with local councils and with trapping locations within the Hills, Parramatta and Blacktown local government areas.
Useful links