A NEW mosquito virus could hold the key to eliminating Ross River virus outbreaks in humans.
University of Queensland and University of Sydney researchers have discovered the Parramatta River virus, which only infects mosquitoes.
Jody Hobson-Peters from University of Queensland's Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre thinks the discovery of the new virus could hold the key to fighting back against human disease, possibly leading to a mosquito vaccine.
"The presence of Parramatta River virus or other similar good viruses in a mosquito may make it harder for the human disease-causing bad viruses to also infect that mosquito, thus stopping disease transmission," Dr Hobson-Peters said.
"This discovery highlights how little we know about mosquitoes and their relationships with pathogens.
"By learning about mosquito-borne viruses we may be better able to predict outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease."
The virus has been found in the saltmarsh mosquito, which is one of the most common mosquitoes in coastal regions of Australia.
This variety of mosquito is also responsible for spreading the Ross River virus.
"It probably bites more people than any other mosquito," said University of Sydney medical entomologist Cameron Webb.
"With this discovery, we could find a way to vaccinate mosquitoes and stop their bites making thousands of Australians sick every summer."
