What is Ross River Virus? Ross River Virus is a small encapsulated single-strand RNA alphavirus endemic to Australia, Papua New Guinea and other islands in the South Pacific. It is responsible for a type of mosquito-borne, non-lethal but debilitating tropical disease known as Ross River fever, previously termed "epidemic polyarthritis". Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_River_virus What is the life cycle of Ross River Virus?

1. Virus lands of cell surface and is engulfed by cell membrane

2. Viral core is released into the cell

3. RNA is released, instructing the cell to make new viral RNA and proteins

4. New viral surface proteins are synthesised

5. New viral components collect at cell membrane and new virus particle buds from the cell membrane

What is the mode of transmission for Ross River Virus? The Aedes genus of mosquitoes act as a vector for the disease, transmitting from either the mosquito to human, human to human or human to animal. The disease is zoonotic. What is the impact on the host? A number of signs and symptoms can present upon infection.

• Fever

• Chills

• Muscle aches

• Rash

• Fatigue

• Aching tendons

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Headache

• Joint pain, swelling and stiffness