The CSIRO has warned that rainwater tanks as far south as Brisbane could provide year-round protection for the Aedes aegypti mosquito which carries diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
In Australia the mosquito is found mostly in north Queensland but also exists in a number of towns in the Wide Bay region closer to Brisbane.
"Previous studies had suggested that conditions in Brisbane were inhospitable for the species during winter but our findings show that rainwater tanks could provide year-long protection for the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Brisbane and other sub-tropical areas of Australia," CSIRO scientist, Dr Brendan Trewin, said.
It is believed that more than 40 per cent of Brisbane properties now have rainwater tanks, though this number could be much higher as there is no formal registration or monitoring procedure.
The threat was for the mosquito to keep moving further and further south unless it was properly controlled in southern Qld.
"The last time Brisbane had significant Aedes aegypti and dengue epidemics they also had a lot of unsealed rainwater tanks and our research suggests it was the decision to remove these tanks in the 1950s that was one of the keys to driving the disease-carrying mosquito out of the city," Dr Trewin said.
"We are not suggesting that rainwater tanks should be removed but we think it is important for people to be aware that if their rainwater tanks are not maintained properly, large areas of southern Australia may see the return of the Aedes aegypti and other exotic disease vectors, bringing with them potentially serious implications for Australian public health."
Dr Trewin said many people were unknowingly adding to the risk by making modifications to their tank like removing the sieve that collects leaves from the roof and gutters or adding modified downpipes.
"Biosecurity is just as important in the backyard, as it is at the border," he said.
"People need to check to make sure their water tanks are compliant, fully sealed and not capable of allowing mosquitoes in or out of their tanks."
Researchers measured mosquito survival and development during simulated Brisbane winter conditions in rainwater tanks and buckets and found that 70pc of mosquito larvae survived to adulthood in water tanks and 50pc in buckets.
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Associate Professor Greg Devine said each year hundreds of people arrived in Australia infected with dengue and other infectious diseases which could be transmitted by the Aedes aegypti.
"These noncompliant tanks pose a real risk of becoming Aedes aegypti habitats and breeding sites, which could lead to outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and Zika to a population that has no immunity to these diseases," Associate Professor Devine said.
Dr Trewin said a large focus for CSIRO was on monitoring for disease carrying vectors like mosquitoes that could cause an infectious disease epidemic, while at the same time planning for how Australia would respond if one did occur.
"As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is working on a range of tools to help safeguard Australia, from real time alert systems; quicker and smarter diagnostic tools; right through to sterilisation technology that eradicates the mosquito," he said.
Rainwater Checklist
Check there are sieves at the entrance and overflow and there are no gaps
Check for cracks in plastic tanks
Make sure the sieves aren't rusting and there are no holes
Mosquitoes feed on broken down leaves so keep gutters leaf free
Check that first flush devices are draining
