Ross river virus (RRV) is an insect-borne, noncontagious RNA alphavirus that is endemic in Australia, Papua New Guinea and other islands in the South Pacific. The virus is a mosquito-borne debilitating topical disease that can infect horses and humans.

Transmission
RRV is transmitted through infected mosquitoes. Several different species of mosquitoes can carry Ross River virus, including Culex annulirostris, Aedes vigilax, and Aedes notoscriptus. The main natural reservoirs are kangaroos and wallabies, though in urban areas possums, horses, birds and flying foxes may also act as hosts.

Incubation Period
The incubation period is 7-10 days.

Geographical Distribution: Outbreaks of the virus have been found throughout Australia, Tasmania, West Papua and Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji, Samoa, and the Cook Islands.