Over the last 10 years, novel infectious agents including Equine Morbillivirus, Lyssavirus, Barmah Forest virus, Rickettsia honei and two as-yet-unnamed bunyaviruses have been identified as causes of human disease in Australia. Previously described agents, such as Japanese B encephalitis virus, dengue virus, Ross River virus, Orientia tsutsugamushi, Rickettsia australis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Mycobacterium ulcerans and Trichinella pseudospiralis, have increased their geographical distribution over the last 20 years. Widespread antibiotic use has also resulted in selection for, and dissemination (especially in hospitals) of, multiresistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), expanded-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Gram-negative bacteria, penicillin-resistant pneumococci and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).
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The author(s) declare there are no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with any financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
