Veterinarians and disease experts are warning cases of canine ehrlichiosis could surge as travellers visiting the NT begin heading home.
Vet Campbell Costello has already treated many dogs infected with ehrlichiosis.
"Tell them in the southern states to get ready for it ... we in Australia have never seen anything like this before," he said.
Huge numbers of tourists are reported to have fled pandemic restrictions in the south to enjoy dry season conditions in the north.
"The disease is going to hitch a ride back home, there's nothing surer," he said.
This week it was revealed Qld had recorded its first official case of the disease, with the state's Agriculture and Fisheries Department confirming a Qld dog had caught the disease after travelling with its owners through WA and the NT.
There have been cases of ehrlichiosis now in all mainland states which was only discovered in Australia with cases in northern WA a year ago.
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