title: Climate variability, social and environmental factors, and ross river virus transmission: research development and future research needs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arbovirus diseases have emerged as a global public health concern. However, the impact of climatic, social, and environmental variability on the transmission of arbovirus diseases remains to be determined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our goal for this study was to provide an overview of research development and future research directions about the interrelationship between climate variability, social and environmental factors, and the transmission of Ross River virus (RRV), the most common and widespread arbovirus disease in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic literature search on climatic, social, and environmental factors and RRV disease. Potentially relevant studies were identified from a series of electronic searches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The body of evidence revealed that the transmission cycles of RRV disease appear to be sensitive to climate and tidal variability. Rainfall, temperature, and high tides were among major determinants of the transmission of RRV disease at the macro level. However, the nature and magnitude of the interrelationship between climate variability, mosquito density, and the transmission of RRV disease varied with geographic area and socioenvironmental condition. Projected anthropogenic global climatic change may result in an increase in RRV infections, and the key determinants of RRV transmission we have identified here may be useful in the development of an early warning system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis indicates that there is a complex relationship between climate variability, social and environmental factors, and RRV transmission. Different strategies may be needed for the control and prevention of RRV disease at different levels. These research findings could be used as an additional tool to support decision making in disease control/surveillance and risk management.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia. s.tong@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Shilu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McMichael
mesh_terms: D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002980:Climate; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012398:Ross River virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*