摘要：Arboviruses continue to be major human pathogens in the Australian region. This report providesa summary of the activities of these viruses over the past eight years, and comments on newfindings relevant to their respective ecologies. Of particular interest and concern is the propensi tyof these viruses to spread. The examples discussed include the initiation of dengue epidemics innorth Queensland by virus imported in viraemic travellers; the spread of Japanese encephalitisvirus to the Australasian region and its probable enzootic establishment in the south-west of Papua New Guinea; the potential spread of Ross River virus to other countries, as demonstrated by the1979-80 outbreak in the South Pacific, and the recent occurrence in military personnel from theUnited States of America after an exercise; and the recent spread of Barmah Forest virus intoWestern Australia
