Disease
Hybridisation and the new frontier against spread of global pests
Global trade means global pests – not just in the way they spread but in the way they breed. Hybridisation of two moth species has now been confirmed, creating a fast-generating, pesticide-resistant mega pest which threatens broad-acre crops across the Americas. What’s next?
Reclaiming our rivers from feral carp
Five years ago, ECOS reported on new research investigating the potential for a biological control to manage the problem of carp in the Murray-Darling river system. The ongoing research is now part of a $15m national plan.
Rainwater tanks overflowing – with mosquitoes
More than 20% of domestic rainwater tanks inspected in Melbourne homes have been found to harbour egg-laying mosquitoes. What can we do to keep them out?
Building total system health around northern Australian development
A total system approach to health and biosecurity risk assessment is not only good for northern Australia, but also for sustaining Australia’s healthy population and economy.
It’s official: our honey bees are some of the healthiest in the world
According to a new CSIRO survey, Australia can now proudly call itself home to one of the healthiest populations of European honey bees in the world.
It’s all ‘bout the bats, ‘bout the bats, just published
A look at the recent and rapid progress of research into bats and the viruses they harbour and the role bats play as hosts to many major zoonotic viruses.
Pests and pathogens hitching a ride
There’s a downside to modern travel and trade networks: pests and pathogens hitch a ride. Nowadays, as a 2014 CSIRO report shows, the question isn’t ‘if’ something nasty arrives – it’s ‘when’.
Australian farmers face increasing threat of new diseases: report
A nationwide outbreak of foot and mouth disease; an invasion of a devastating wheat disease; our honeybees completely wiped out. These are just three possible disastrous scenarios facing Australia; they’re considered in the Australia’s Biosecurity Future report recently published by CSIRO and its partners.