Dengue in Australia 2009

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/14/2465815.htm

Townsville records second dengue fever strain

Health authorities have confirmed a second strain of dengue fever in Townsville in north Queensland.

An outbreak of the mosquito-borne illness has affected dozens of people in Cairns and Townsville in recent weeks.

The Tropical Population Health Unit's Dr Scott Ritchie says the latest strain may have been brought to the region by overseas travellers.

"It seems more of a threat than it probably is in reality," he said.

"What it does mean for us is that we've got two completely different outbreaks of dengue going on at two different fronts.

"The logistics of trying to counter and control those things are a bit horrendous."

Dr Ritchie says recent flooding may have contributed to the problem.

"Surface containers that might have mosquito eggs - they're all going to be flooded now," he said.

"All those eggs that could hatch would've hatched, so I suspect by the end of the month we're going to have a lot of dengue mosquitoes."

The Townsville City Council says it will increase its efforts to eliminate potential dengue mosquito breeding sites as soon as the rainfall clears.

Eight people in Townsville have now contracted dengue fever, with Belgian Gardens and North Ward confirmed as infected zones.

Townsville residents are being urged to protect themselves from mosquitoes with repellent and ensure there is no stagnated water on their property.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/new...with-new-strain/2009/01/15/1231608854560.html

Dengue threat intensifies with new strain
Shannon Molloy | January 15, 2009 - 11:26AM

Heavy rain across north Queensland at the weekend has dramatically increased the risk of mosquito breeding when the region is already battling an outbreak of dengue fever.

Queensland Health entomologist Scott Ritchie is predicting a surge in numbers of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is responsible for spreading the potentially fatal virus.

The warning comes after authorities yesterday confirmed the discovery of a new strain of dengue, known as type 3, in Townsville.

Doctors first confirmed the presence of dengue type 1 in Cairns in December, when a traveller from Indonesia arrived in the city and became unwell.

Since then, there have been 134 confirmed cases across Cairns and Townsville.

The presence of a new strain carries a greater risk of death if a person is infected with more than one type of the virus.

Dr Ritchie believes this latest outbreak is far from over, with evidence of increased breeding activity due to recent monsoonal rain.

"We've got a long way to go before the wet season is over and I'm not confident we'll be rid of this thing in a month or two - we're still finding a lot of mosquito breeding," Dr Ritchie said.

"On the positive side, this heavy rain probably flushed out some breeding hot spots around homes including blocked roof gutters, but on the other hand it has also flooded ground containers like buckets and tarps."

Artificial objects that can hold water, from bird baths to overturned wheelbarrows, should be immediately removed from backyards, he said.

"People who have bird baths should empty them twice a week or consider getting rid of them all together - there's no need to wash the birds up here right now, there's enough water."

Recent strong winds could have also blown debris from trees into roof gutters, creating the perfect haven for breeding.

Complacency will result in mosquito numbers soaring in coming months, which could extend the life of the current outbreak or help it spread to new locations, he warned.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is confined to the state's northern regions and the recent rain and subsequent flooding in river systems will not aid the mosquito's journey south, he said.

"The only way this mosquito moves is by people transporting it - not the physical mosquito but its eggs, which can survive in dry conditions for several months.

"Say someone moves to Brisbane from Cairns and takes a whole bunch of pot plants with them, if the eggs are sitting in the bases they could potentially survive a long and dry journey and then hatch in the south-east."

Dr Ritchie is part of a cohort of scientists involved in a project to track the Aedes aegypti, audit mosquito populations across the state and document breeding risk spots.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24917276-3102,00.html

Dengue squad hits Thursday Island on mozzie hunt
Janelle Miles

January 15, 2009 11:00pm

QUEENSLAND Health has sent a team of mosquito busters to Thursday Island amid worries the dengue fever outbreak could spread to the Torres Strait.

Cairns-based public health specialist Jeffrey Hanna said Thursday Island had historically been hit with severe outbreaks of dengue fever.

Since November, 126 dengue cases have been confirmed in Cairns and, in a separate outbreak, eight people have been infected in Townsville.

But the Torres Strait has remained free of the virus so far this season. Two Torres Strait Islanders died of a severe form of the mosquito-borne virus, dengue haemorrhagic fever, during the 2003-04 outbreak.

Dr Hanna said another two islanders infected with dengue required extended stays in intensive care at the Cairns Base Hospital during the same year.

He said a Queensland Health team had been sent to the Torres Strait to seek out and destroy potential mosquito breeding sites.

"We know there's a dengue mosquito problem on Thursday Island," Dr Hanna said. "There's a team working up there doing some preventive work."

Doctors this week identified two strains of dengue circulating in Townsville, type 1 and type 3, raising concerns of people developing a potentially deadly second strain of the virus.

But Dr Hanna said he was more concerned that people infected in past years would pick up a different strain of the virus, a scenario that could trigger dengue haemorrhagic fever.

"It's the many, many people, numbering in the thousands, who have had prior dengue with a different strain," he said.

"I don't want a life-threatening or fatal case of dengue fever in this outbreak."

Symptoms of dengue fever, which has four strains, can include a fever, headaches, especially behind the eyes, a rash, unpleasant taste, extreme tiredness, muscle aches and pains, and diarrhoea.

The Cairns cases, linked to the arrival of an Indonesian traveller in November, are all type 3.

Queensland cases of the mosquito-borne Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses are also above five-year averages for this time of year after a wet start to the summer.

Between December 1 and January 4, 112 cases of Ross River virus and 78 cases of Barmah Forest virus were reported to Queensland Health.

Five-year averages for the period are 87 cases of Ross River and 47 of Barmah Forest virus.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,24922933-3102,00.html

Dengue cases double in Cairns, Townsville
Janelle Miles

January 16, 2009 11:00pm

DENGUE fever cases in north Queensland have more than doubled in just 10 days with confirmation of 149 infections in Cairns and Townsville.

The news about dengue fever comes as Queensland Health prepares to boost the number of environmental health officers working on mosquito control measures in Cairns from seven to 16 from Monday.

Cairns is the site of the worst outbreak with 140 confirmed cases, all believed to result from the arrival of a traveller from Indonesia in November.

Another nine people have been infected in Townsville.

After flooding in Cairns and Townsville earlier this week, Queensland Health medical entomologist Scott Ritchie has warned residents to prepare for a big rise in mosquito numbers.

"I fully expect a surge of dengue mosquitoes to hatch in the middle of next week following the wet weather we've had," Dr Ritchie said. "These new mosquitoes could then transmit dengue fever . . . and this is of great concern."

He called on north Queensland residents to rid their yards of pooled water this weekend as a public health priority.

"Due to the fact these mosquitoes are due to hatch next week, I strongly urge residents to clear up their yards this weekend of all potential breeding sites, which means any container holding water," he said.

"This can include buckets, old tyres, tarpaulins and black plastic, pot plant bases, vases, boats, tin cans and plastic containers, roof guttering, birdbaths, drain sumps, fallen palm fronds and coconut shells."

Cairns-based public health specialist Jeffrey Hanna said the two strains of the virus circulating in the state's north, type 1 and type 3, were particularly virulent.

He said a significant number of people had needed to be admitted to hospital.

"We've had, for example, a healthy young bloke, who works outside and is physically fit who has had to be hospitalised because of a dengue 1 infection," Dr Hanna said.

"This is not a mild infection."

But Dr Hanna said his biggest concern was for people affected in previous years, either in Australia or overseas, who could acquire a potentially deadly second infection with a different strain.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24929160-5003426,00.html

Scientists fight to stop dengue fever carrying mosquitos
Janelle Miles

January 18, 2009 11:00pm

AS the far north of the state battles a surge in dengue fever cases, another deadly carrier is lurking offshore - and scientists are racing to head it off.
It has a potentially deadly viral payload that could strike as far south as Melbourne.

The bloodsucking Asian tiger mosquito has established a base in the Torres Strait, where attempts to eradicate the carrier of the debilitating dengue fever have been unsuccessful, and scientists fear it will become a major health hazard if it isn't stopped there.

Far north Queensland already is in the grip of its worst dengue fever outbreak in five years with 149 confirmed cases in the past two months, 140 of them in Cairns and nine in Townsville.

But scientists say the species wreaking havoc in Australia's north is a lesser threat than the Asian tiger mosquito, which is more tolerant to cold and carries the disease double whammy of dengue and the potentially deadly chikungunya virus, which can lead to multiple organ failure and heart attack.

The Asian tiger (aedes albopictus) is a different species to the mosquito already spreading dengue in north Queensland this season.

Queensland Institute of Medical Research mosquito control laboratory manager Peter Head will meet with Queensland Health medical entomologist Scott Ritchie in Cairns this week to discuss ongoing measures aimed at keeping the Asian tiger mosquito out of mainland Australia.

"Once it's established on the mainland, I think it would be very difficult to try and eliminate," Dr Ryan said.

"It poses a threat then to areas where dengue mosquitoes currently don't exist ... major metropolitan areas throughout most of Australia."

University of Queensland biologist Scott O'Neill said it would be very difficult to stop the Asian tiger mosquito from coming into mainland Australia.

"The Asian tiger mosquito ... has been very aggressive and invasive and it's just recently come to our borders in the Torres Strait," Professor O'Neill said.

Stephen Prowse, the Brisbane-based CEO of the Australian Biosecurity Co-operative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease, said the potential for a chikungunya outbreak in Australia was concerning.

"I think if that comes into Australia, it'll cause considerable problems," Professor Prowse said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/19/2469479.htm?section=justin

Nth Qld blood stocks low due to Dengue outbreaks

Posted Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:09pm AEDT
Updated Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:08pm AEDT

Dengue fever outbreaks in Cairns and Townsville have depleted Queensland blood stocks.

More than 150 people have been diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease in Cairns and Townsville.

Rebecca Cook from the Red Cross Blood Service says the collection of blood has been restricted in dengue-affected areas.

"We can't use the red cells, we can't use the platelets so we're having to discard both and just use plasma which has actually put a 14 per cent deficit on both of those components across the state," she said.

"We definitely need people to come forward.

"If they've ever considered donating blood now's a really good time to do that."

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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Re: Dengue in Australia

Dengue outbreak 'worst since WWII'

AAPJanuary 20, 2009


HEALTH authorities are struggling to contain the worst outbreak of dengue fever to hit Queensland since before World War II.
A virulent strain of the mosquito-borne disease has hit the north Queensland city of Cairns, with 161 cases recorded so far.

Nine cases have also been reported in Townsville.

Queensland Health's Dr Linda Selvey said Cairns was dealing with the worst dengue outbreak Queensland had experienced since pre-World War II days.

She said many of those affected required hospital treatment, and one person had spent several days in intensive care.

"We are really concerned how quickly the number of cases have grown, how quickly it has moved to a range of different suburbs, the short incubation time which makes it difficult to control, and the fact it's making people sicker,'' Dr Selvey said.

"People are getting sicker than we normally see and children are getting sick where as previously children weren't necessarily getting sick.''

She said the short incubation time was making it difficult to contain the outbreak.

"The mosquito goes from one person to the next, then it has to bite someone with dengue, then the virus has to multiply in the gut of the mosquito before it can infect the next person,'' she said.

"That time period has been shortened. The virus is multiplying faster and people are being infected much more quickly.''

There are four types of dengue fever and each type has different strains.

Cairns is dealing with an outbreak of a strain of dengue type three, believed to have originated from Indonesia.

Dr Selvey said Townsville had a different strain that was not as virulent.

Residents are being urged to empty water from containers where mosquitoes could breed.

Dengue fever symptoms include fever, a sunburn-like rash, sore eyes and lethargy.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24939241-29277,00.html

 

[e_armigeri]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

I heard my first ever Dengue radio public service announcement in the US during the NFL football playoff game this past Sunday. The current winter average temperature throughout 2/3 eastern US was about 10F (-15C) at the time.

This must be a temperature resilient dengue vector!

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24938719-952,00.html

Queensland health declares dengue fever epidemic in Cairns
Janelle Miles

January 20, 2009 10:00pm

QUEENSLAND Health has declared a dengue fever epidemic in Cairns, where 167 cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been confirmed in 10 weeks.

Population Health Queensland executive director Linda Selvey said the strain of the virus circulating in Cairns was virulent and the number of cases rising so rapidly that controlling its spread was proving more difficult than previous outbreaks.

"People are getting infected and getting sicker quicker than any outbreak we've previously seen," she said from Cairns.

"We're getting quite an escalation of cases to the point where we're calling it an epidemic. We're really concerned. A much higher proportion of cases are needing to go to hospital ... than we have previously seen."

One patient required intensive care for two days after contracting the potentially deadly virus.

Dr Selvey made an impassioned plea for Cairns residents to rid their yards of water where dengue mosquitoes could be breeding.

She said one environmental health officer had found dengue mosquitoes breeding in every back yard he had inspected yesterday, despite a public health campaign warning residents of the risks.

An incident management team will oversee efforts to bring the epidemic under control.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/01/21/24491_local-news.html

Dengue epidemic
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
? The Cairns Post

THE dengue fever outbreak in Cairns reached official epidemic status yesterday as almost 170 cases were recorded, the worst outbreak in Queensland since World War II.

The situation is so bad an incident management team is being set up to co-ordinate eradication efforts and an extra 20 staff will be sent to help battle the outbreak.

There have so far been 167 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Cairns but Tropical Population Health Services executive director Linda Selvey yesterday predicted the number would balloon to more than 200 by the end of January, if not before.

To find out more about dengue fever, click here.

She said Queensland Health had set a benchmark of 150 confirmed cases before the outbreak was declared an epidemic.

She said the outbreak affecting Cairns was a more aggressive strain than in previous years, making the disease harder to control.

"What that means is people are getting infected and getting sicker much quicker than we normally would have expected," she said.

"We have to take this extremely seriously and that's reflected by the additional resources we are putting into the epidemic.

"This is quite different to what we have seen previously and it is of great concern to us."

Dr Selvey said discussions with the dengue eradication team yesterday morning had culminated in an agreement to train an additional 20 mosquito control officers.

"That's something we certainly had considered before but we made a decision today to do that," she said.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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Re: Dengue in Australia

Officials fear dengue fever will spread

Fri Jan 23 2009

By Jessica Marszalek

Over 200 cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in north Queensland.

Health officials are battling to prevent the spread of north Queensland's dengue fever epidemic, which they say could take months to stop.

So far there are almost 190 confirmed cases in Cairns and 20 in Townsville, with one in four infected people hospitalised, acting Chief Health Officer Linda Selvey says.

Two people have also been infected in Mackay, after visiting Townsville and Cairns.

Dr Selvey says the virus is spreading much more quickly, showing worse symptoms than usual, and will take months to stamp out.

She says the two cases in Mackay have raised fears of an outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus there.

"We're clearly concerned that could spread in Mackay but at this stage our efforts to control that seem to have been successful," she says.

It's possible dengue fever may travel north to the Torres Strait, west to the Tablelands and as far south as Goomeri, near Gympie.

Meanwhile, another mosquito capable of spreading the disease is withstanding attempts to eradicate it, leading to fears of future outbreaks in southern Australia.

Dr Selvey says Queensland Health is working to contain a mosquito from Papua New Guinea currently in the outer islands of the Torres Strait.

"While we have been working to eradicate that mosquito we now believe that's probably not going to be successful.

"The significance of that mosquito to Australia is that it is also capable of transmitting dengue fever but it can also live quite well in cooler climates."

Acting Health Minister Andrew Fraser has called on north Queenslanders to check their yards and get rid of all dormant water, the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Homes should be sprayed with cockroach spray, which is effective in killing mosquitoes.

He says people should wear mosquito repellent at all times, including when they're inside.

"All the residents of north Queensland need to be part of the solution here and we issue an impassioned plea."

Dengue fever symptoms include severe headaches, body aches and rashes.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/732485/officials-fear-dengue-fever-will-spread

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,24953979-3102,00.html

Dengue fever mosquitoes may be resistant to pesticide



Janelle Miles

January 23, 2009 11:00pm

DENGUE fever cases in north Queensland climbed above 200 yesterday amid fears the disease carrying mosquitoes may be resistant to pesticides.
Cairns-based insect expert Scott Ritchie said Queensland Health was looking at alternative pesticides to address what has been described as the state's worst dengue outbreak since before World War II.

"We are concerned that a minority of residents do not perceive the public health risk associated with neglecting mozzie breeding on their property," Dr Ritchie said.

"Dengue mosquitoes are extremely adept at finding water in a wide variety of containers. They are secretive, indoor, daytime biters. Even one or two mosquitoes in a house is enough to maintain the transmission cycle."

In Cairns, where 13 suburbs have been affected, 190 dengue fever cases have been confirmed, while in Townsville, 20 people have been infected.

Despite scientists expressing concern the dengue mosquito could easily re-establish itself in the state's southeast, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said studies had revealed no sign of the blood suckers in Brisbane.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/01/24/24985_local-news.html

Dengue team targeted
Henry Tuttiett
Saturday, January 24, 2009
? The Cairns Post

DENGUE Action Response Team members have amazingly been the target of complaints from residents upset about the large scale effort to control the outbreak in Cairns.

As the number of confirmed cases hit 190 yesterday, senior medical entomologist Brian Montgomery revealed complaints had come from residents who were not at home when DART entered their yard and were unhappy about the process taking place without their consent.

While Mr Montgomery said complaints were made by a minority of people, it was frustrating to be targeted while trying to help.

"Certainly it?s a minority but that?s definitely the last thing you want to hear when you are trying to help someone," Mr Montgomery said.

"Some people don?t like the idea that we accessed their property without their consent but there is legislation saying we can enter.

"The reason we are on the property is to try to help.

"The public needs to be assured it?s for the good of the wider population."

Mr Montgomery said DART was made up of six teams of three, who were operating in infected suburbs implementing mosquito-proof measures.

He said the public had a role to play in containing the outbreak as well.

"We are trying our best to stop people getting dengue fever, we need people to ask themselves are they doing their best," he said.

Working in Earlville yesterday, DART control officer Rod Bellwood said his team was impressed by the state of some
gardens and disappointed by others.

"Some yards are out of control," he said.

"It?s a shame because some yards are perfect and two houses down it?s a mess."

Acting chief health officer Linda Selvey said officials were battling to control the spread of the outbreak, described as the worst since World War II.

One in four infected people have been admitted to hospital, with two people also infected in Mackay, after visiting Townsville and Cairns.

Dr Selvey said the virus was spreading much more quickly, while showing worse symptoms than usual and would take months to stamp out.

She said there were fears mosquitoes could feed on the two infected people in Mackay, leading to an outbreak.

"We?re clearly concerned that it could spread in Mackay but at this stage our efforts to control that seem to have been successful," she said.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Rainwater tanks could see mozzies return

Mon Jan 26 2009

A study has found the installation of rainwater tanks in backyards is helping in mosquito breeding.


The return of rainwater tanks in Australia's back yards could bring the mosquito that carries dengue fever back to areas as far south as Sydney.

After arriving in Australia on ships carrying infected water barrels in the late 19th century, the mozzie spread from Queensland to Sydney and west to Perth.

But by the late 1960s it had been restricted to the northern half of Queensland thanks in part to the removal of old galvanised rainwater tanks, the installation of piped water, insecticides and new power lawnmowers that helped keep yards tidy.

But now, thanks to climate change, the backyard rainwater tank is making a resurgence - and a new study warns the dengue mozzie could hitch a ride.

Lead author, Dr Michael Kearney of the University of Melbourne, says rainwater tanks and smaller storage tubs like modified wheelie bins are potential breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito which carries the disease.

"The potential direct impact of climate change on its distribution and abundance is minor when compared to the potential effect of changed water-storage behaviour," said Dr Kearney.

"In many Australian cities and towns, a major impact of climate change is reduced rainfall, resulting in a dramatic increase in domestic rainwater storage and other forms of water hoarding," he said.

"Without due caution with water storage hygiene, this indirect effect of climate change via human adaptation could dramatically re-expand the mosquito's current range."

The study is published in the new issue of the British Ecological Society's journal Functional Ecology.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/733110/rainwater-tanks-could-see-mozzies-return

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/27/2474826.htm

Dengue outbreak 'could be lethal'
Updated 34 minutes ago


Authorities say the dengue fever epidemic in far north Queensland is more severe than first thought, with the discovery of about 20 infections a day.

There are already 200 confirmed cases in Cairns and another 20 in Townsville.

The head of the dengue control program, Scott Ritchie, has told AM there is a risk that this strain could be lethal.

"We have had some quite ill people - about one in five have been hospitalised - and there was one person who was in the intensive care unit for a few days," he said.

"It has been a quite nasty strain."

Mr Ritchie says the number of new infections should start to drop in a week or two.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2474964.htm

Dengue fever concerns

AM - Tuesday, 27 January , 2009 08:12:00
Reporter: Nicole Butler

PETER CAVE: To North Queensland now, where experts say there's a real risk of people dying as the dengue fever epidemic grows.

There've already been over 200 confirmed cases, and authorities are working around the clock to try to stop the spread of the mosquito-borne virus.

But experts warn the resurgence of the backyard water tank could even see the deadly disease spread south to New South Wales.

Nicole Butler reports.

NICOLE BUTLER: Authorities say the dengue fever epidemic in far north Queensland is more severe than first thought, with around 20 new infections each day.

There's already around 200 confirmed cases in the tourist mecca Cairns, and around 20 further south in Townsville

Five years ago the virus claimed two lives in Australia, and Dr Scott Ritchie believes the current strain could be lethal.

SCOTT RITCHIE: Potentially so, we have had some quite ill people about one in five who have been hospitalised and there was one person who was, you know, in the intensive care unit for a few days. So it has been a quite nasty strain.

NICOLE BUTLER: The medical entomologist has headed the dengue control programme in Qld since 1994.

He's never seen the mosquito-borne virus spread as fast as it is now.

Nevertheless eradication efforts are also gaining pace, and Dr Ritchie believes the number of new cases in Cairns should start to drop soon.

SCOTT RITCHIE: We hope to finish controlling within one or two weeks. So I think what's going to happen is we're going to have transmission in a lot of areas around Cairns, but it won't be explosive. So it may go on for a while but the attack rate, the number of new cases coming in should start drawing back here within the next week or two.

NICOLE BUTLER: Dr Ritchie says a lot of people have water lying in containers around their yards.

He says they?re the ones most likely to be infected by the dengue mosquito.

SCOTT RITCHIE: They breed in artificial containers like buckets, tires, birdbaths.

NICOLE BUTLER: Quite a few scientists are concerned by the return of the rainwater tanks to Australia's backyards.

Queensland researcher Tim Hurst warns residential water tanks are ideal breeding grounds for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.

He says dengue fever may have been confined to tropical parts of Australia for the past 70 years, but substandard tanks could see the insect again heading south.

TIM HURST: There?s been various models that have predicted it could get to New South Wales.

NICOLE BUTLER: Dr Hurst believes the dengue mosquito's southern migration could happen over the next five to 10 years, as water tanks need repairs and owners become complacent.

TIM HURST: People might remove screens because they're sick of cleaning them out. There might be overflow so again they remove them. Things like this could lead to the degradations and there was some not so great companies out there that tanks weren?t up to standard.

PETER CAVE: Mosquito expert Tim Hurst ending that report from Nicole Butler.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-...-outbreak-reaches-200-mark-20090128-7rw7.html

Qld dengue outbreak reaches 200 mark
Gabrielle Dunlevy
January 28, 2009 - 6:44PM

The number of dengue fever cases in north Queensland has exceeded 200 and authorities say the public's response will determine how bad the outbreak gets.

There have been 201 cases confirmed in the Cairns area, and six in the Townsville area since the outbreak of dengue type 3 was declared on December 1.

There are also 15 confirmed type 1 cases in Townsville.

Queensland Health's senior medical entomologist Brian Montgomery said residents and visitors should not take the outbreak lightly.

The largest north Queensland outbreak in recent memory was 498 cases in 2003, but unlike the current event, it started in February, the usual start of dengue season, Mr Montgomery said.

"It's certainly a concern for us because traditionally dengue season tends not to get started until February. So here we are in January and we've already reached 200 cases," he told reporters in Cairns on Wednesday.

He said Queensland Health's focus was on "breaking the dengue cycle" by exterminating Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which carry the virus.

"The mosquitoes are here all year round. What we're trying to do is break the cycle between infected people getting bitten by dengue mosquitoes and those infected mosquitoes biting new people," he said.

Mr Montgomery urged people in north Queensland not to wait for health authorities to spray their properties and take matters into their own hands.

Queensland Health was increasing its roving extermination teams, but Mr Montgomery likened them to "firemen" who should only have to go to homes that had fires.

People should apply repellent during daylight hours and check their backyards weekly for potential breeding sites, including water stagnating in tyres or bromeliads, he said.

"It is, in the large part, in the control of the public to decide how long and how far this goes," he said.

Mr Montgomery also played down fears that the disease could spread further south, saying there was little risk to areas south of Mackay in central Queensland.

"The dengue mosquitoes in north Queensland are very common in Cairns and Townsville and the Torres Strait, so that's really the areas that are most at risk," he said.

"As we travel further down the coast those numbers start to decrease and by the time you get to south-east Queensland the dengue mosquito Aedes aegypti does not occur there.

"It's not a risk for the south-east corner at this stage."

Dengue fever symptoms include severe headaches, body aches and rashes.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/new...hts-to-halt-dengue-fevers-spread/1420434.aspx

Council fights to halt dengue fever's spread
30/01/2009 1:00:00 AM

Central Queensland health authorities have begun eradicating mosquitoes to stop the spread of dengue fever as fears grow of it heading further south.

The mosquito-borne disease is in epidemic proportions in Cairns, with 214 people affected.

Townsville has 25 cases, which includes two strains of the virus, while Mackay has reported two cases.

Rockhampton Regional Council is concerned it could be on their doorstep next and is taking steps to eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the breed of mosquito that can carry dengue.

The council's health committee chairman, Tony Williams, said caravans, parks, schools and any locations known to have big populations of the mosquitoes were being sprayed.

''It's just a matter of somebody [with the virus] travelling through and being bitten,'' he said.

''... The potential is there for it to spread. We have doubled staffing, even pulled people out from other jobs, to spray mosquito breeding grounds.''

The mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and residents are being urged to clear blocked gutters, empty buckets, containers, wheelbarrows, pot plants and anything else that carries water. AAP

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2009/01/30/dengue-could-reach-gympie/

Dengue could reach gympie
30th January 2009

DENGUE fever is heading south, health authorities and researchers warned yesterday with experts predicting it will reach as far south as Gympie.

Yesterday they said it was possible the disease may travel north to the Torrest Strait, west to the Tablelands and as far south as Gympie.

The mosquito known to scientists as Aedes Aegypti (above) is the main carrier of dengue fever and it is spreading its wings south.

North Queensland is now in the grip of a dengue epidemic, the worst since 1992-93 but authorities are concerned that it has come so early in the wet season.

The dengue virus is known as breakbone fever because it causes body aches, extreme fatigue, rashes and high fever. Other symptoms include headache, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea.

World-wide dengue harms up to 100 million people and kills 20,000 every year.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24991972-12377,00.html

Government hands out free mozzie repellent

February 01, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press

PREMIER Premier Anna Bligh has ordered a mozzie repellent roll-out in north Queensland to fight the dengue fever epidemic.

The State Government will hand out free insect repellent this week to all schools in Cairns and Townsville, where the outbreak has affected more than 250 people.

The premier says teachers and staff at more than 90 state and private schools will also be given the repellent.

"This is an unprecedented move for a Queensland Government but if it prevents one child from contracting this disease then it will have been worthwhile,'' said Ms Bligh.

"I can assure parents that an appropriate product for children has been selected, in consultation with experts.

"Parents will be provided with information about this important public health initiative prior to its roll-out later this week and given the option to opt out,'' she said.

Ms Bligh says the Government is starting a new TV ad blitz on Sunday in the region to back up a radio campaign already under way.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said spot checks of North Queensland households showed mosquito breeding sites are still common, particularly in suburban backyards.

"We particularly need to break the myth that the dengue mozzie breeds in rivers when in actual fact it breeds in your backyard and home, and is active during the day,'' he said.

"To date there have been 226 cases confirmed in Cairns and 31 cases in Townsville, including several babies and young children.

"This underscores the seriousness of the outbreak and while the situation in Townsville is not as critical as it is in Cairns, we have to knock it on the head now,'' Mr Robertson said.