Pests
Common Human Parasites | Vector Borne Diseases | Vector Borne disease factsheetsThere are a number of pests, particularly insect pests, which can potentially transmit diseases to humans. There are pest diseases and parasites, passed from human to human, for example, head lice and scabies. There are diseases caught from the bite of an insect, for example, Ross River virus and Dengue fever.
NSW Health Environmental Health Branch provides advice and information on a range of insect borne diseases.
Common Human Parasites
Head lice - Pediculus humanus capitis
NSW Health has a dedicated headlice website with information about treatment and school and community-based headlice eradication.
Pubic lice/Crabs - Pthirus pubis
Pubic lice, often referred to as crabs, infests parts of the human body with coarse hair, particularly the pubic area. They are transmitted through human contact, in adults particularly sexual contact.
Pubic lice factsheet:
Pubic lice Department of Entomology,University of Sydney
Scabies - Sarcoptes scabiei
Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by the scabies mite burrowing into the skin.
Scabies factsheets:
Scabies, Department of Entomology, University of Sydney
Bed Bugs - Cimex hemipterus & Cimex lectularius
Bed bugs live in and around furnishings, skirting and floor boards and bedding. Bed bugs bite at night leaving small lines of dots on the skin.
Bed bugs factsheet:
Bed bugs, Department of Entomology, Univesity of Sydney
Ticks - Ixodes holocyclus
Ticks are bloodsucking parasites found in many parts of Australia. There are many species of tick, though the most common that affects humans along the eastern Australian coast is Ixodes holocyclus.
Ticks inject a toxin that may cause local irritation or a mild allergic reaction, however, most tick bites cause little or no reaction. There are several tick-borne diseases in Australia, including tick paralysis and tick typhus.
Travellers overseas are advised to check with a travel medicine agency for information about tick-borne disease in countries other than Australia.
Vector Borne Diseases
A number of insects found in Australia, particularly mosquitoes, can transmit diseases. The best advice to avoid catching an insect borne disease is to avoid being bitten.
Travellers overseas should also seek advice on the risks of mosquito borne disease including Dengue fever, Yellow fever and Malaria.