Dengue in Australia 2009

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Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/08/26/60391_local-news.html

Dengue over, but take care
Carenda Jenkin
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
? The Cairns Post


HEALTH authorities are confident they will be able to declare the Far North's dengue fever epidemic over in nine days.

Dengue fever has not been active for nearly three months since the last confirmed case in the region on June 3.

There have been 952 cases since the most recent epidemic began in October last year.

The type 3 dengue epidemic was the worst outbreak in North Queensland for at least 50 years.

There have been 909 type 3 cases in Cairns, 16 in Townsville, three at Port Douglas and one case each for Yarrabah, Injinoo and Mareeba.

And another mosquito-borne disease, Ross River virus, it's slowing down as well in the Far North.

With 272 cases this year, only seven cases have been reported this month.

But a Queensland Health Tropical Population Health Service spokesman said the time is right to clean up any unwanted rubbish around the yard before the wet season.

"The first case last year for dengue fever was at the end of October," the spokesman said.

"People should remain vigilant. It?s almost been three months since the last case and Queensland Health are hoping to officially declare the dengue epidemic over on September 5.

"With Ross River fever, the peak is February to May and then the numbers come back down again. It is not life threatening compared to dengue."

"But the best prevention is to take precautions against being bitten by mosquitos."

There is no vaccine or cure for dengue fever, a painful and debilitating disease. It affects up to 100 million people and kills more than 20,000 every year.

As the weather warms up, residents should:

n Avoid being outside during times of heavy infestation of mosquitoes, for example, early evenings in the warmer months.

n Use insect repellents and wear protective, light
coloured clothing.

n Screen living and sleeping areas.

n Check your home regularly for potential mosquito breeding areas eg any uncovered water containers should be emptied regularly.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/04/2676398.htm

Far north dengue epidemic 'over'

By Siobhan Barry

Posted Fri Sep 4, 2009 9:30am AEST


Queensland Health says far north Queensland's dengue fever epidemic will officially be declared over today.

The epidemic began in Cairns last November and became the biggest outbreak of the disease in Australia in at least 50 years.

Queensland Health says more than 930 people in the state's north, and far north, were diagnosed with a "particularly virulent" strain of type three dengue fever.

Cases of types one, two and four of the virus were also recorded across the region.

 

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Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/01/2701538.htm

North Qld faces 'growing Pacific dengue threat'

Posted Thu Oct 1, 2009 9:11am AEST

A public health official has warned north Queensland faces an increased risk of dengue fever from neighbouring Pacific countries.

Queensland Health medical entomologist Dr Scott Ritchie will today speak at public briefing in Cairns on emergencies and health in the tropics.

Dr Ritchie says while many early dengue outbreaks were traced back to South-East Asia, it has becoming more prevalent in Pacific nations such as the Cook Islands, Fiji and Tonga.

"I believe we are now sitting at 20 or 21 one cases of imported dengue so far this year and that's a record since we started recording that information back in the early '90s," he said.

"A good number of those cases were from Pacific island countries like the Cook Islands, Fiji and Tonga and so they've had their hands full with dengue outbreak too, so the whole region appears to be kicking off as far as dengue activity goes."

 

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Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/11/13/75665_local-news.html

Dengue's back
Daniel Bateman
Friday, November 13, 2009

? The Cairns Post
QUEENSLAND Health has stepped up its dengue fever response as the disease claims its first four victims of the season.

Three Cairns residents have been struck down with dengue type 2 after travelling to Vietnam, Malaysia and India.

Another locally acquired case of dengue type 1 has also been identified in the Townsville suburb of Garbutt.

The cases come just three months after Cairns was given the official all-clear after it experienced Australia's largest dengue fever epidemic in at least 50 years.

A total of 931 cases of dengue type 3 was confirmed in North Queensland since November last year, claiming the life of an elderly Cairns woman while hundreds of other people were admitted to hospital.

Queensland Health medical director Jeffrey Hanna said a response team had found only small breeding sites where the latest victims had been living.

Dr Hanna said recent wet weather had led to an early start to the dengue season.

"Once the rain clears, it's going to be hot and steamy until the wet season well and truly arrives," Dr Hanna said.

"The combination of these elements, with full containers from early summer rain and the hot temperatures that are coming soon, it's ideal for dengue mosquitoes."

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/qld-records-spike-in-dengue-fever-20091211-knmp.html

Qld records spike in dengue fever
December 11, 2009 - 1:09PM

AAP

A spike in dengue fever cases in north Queensland has authorities fearing a bigger outbreak once the wet season begins.

Queensland Health announced on Friday there had been 10 confirmed dengue type-one cases in the latest outbreak, which began in Heatley, Townsville, in early November.

Tropical Regional Services public health medical officer Dr Steven Donohue said dengue had now spread to Garbutt, Stuart and Wulguru, with some cases apparently unreported.

"We have had seven cases confirmed in just the past few days," Dr Donohue said in a statement.

"I am also concerned because people contracted dengue from infected dengue mosquitoes in areas with no known link to earlier generations of transmission."

This meant there were infected people that Queensland Health did not know about, he said.

"Dengue cases could now occur anywhere in Townsville and beyond and could set us up for a bigger outbreak once the more intense rains arrive," Dr Donohue said.

More than 1000 people across north Queensland were infected with the virus during the previous outbreak, which began in November last year, including an elderly woman who died due to complications in March.

It was the largest epidemic for at least 50 years.

Dengue is not normally fatal on the first infection although its debilitating symptoms - which some have likened to being prodded with red hot pokers - can last for several weeks.

But an infection with a second strain of dengue can lead to the more deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever.

The 931 people infected in the far north with strain three of the virus during last year's outbreak are at risk of severe complications if infected this year.

North Queensland residents have been warned to remove potential mosquito breeding grounds by emptying containers holding water and clearing roof gutters.

They have also been asked to discourage mosquitoes by using indoor surface spray, coils and zappers, and always wearing insect repellent, including during the day.

"We want to ensure people are as prepared as possible," Dr Donohue said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/na...k-rising-in-heat/story-e6frf7l6-1225811584137

Dengue fever outbreak recorded

* From: The Courier-Mail
* December 18, 2009 4:30AM

AUSTRALIAN health authorities are fighting dengue fever on two fronts and are fearful hot summer weather will intensify the chances of an outbreak.

Queensland Health has identified two strains of the mosquito-borne disease in the north Queensland city of Townsville since early November.

Of 11 confirmed cases, nine have been type 1 and two are type 3.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young, who was in Townsville yesterday, admits to being concerned about having two outbreaks before the wet season gets under way and reminded residents to empty water containers to reduce breeding sites.

The 2008/09 dengue epidemic in the north was the state's worst in half a century, affecting 1025 people. Of those, 73 cases were in Townsville.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-new...faces-two-dengue-outbreaks-20091218-l1ag.html

Townsville faces two dengue outbreaks
PAUL OSBORNE
December 18, 2009 - 11:49AM

AAP

The north Queensland city of Townsville now has two separate dengue fever outbreaks, with the wet season yet to start in earnest.

Queensland Health said it had confirmed nine locally-acquired dengue type one cases and two type three cases, in the suburbs of Garbutt, Heatley and Wulguru.

Results on four other cases are expected later on Friday.

Queensland Health medical officer Dr Steven Donohue said the fact that there were now two separate strains in the city, following the declaration of a fresh outbreak last month, was of great concern.

"We are unaware of the origin of this new dengue type three outbreak, but significant mosquito breeding sites have been found by mosquito control officers in Wulguru," Dr Donohue said in a statement.

"This is a bad sign given that we have not even had significant rains yet and lots of people travel around over Christmas."

He said scientists would test the virus to compare it with the dengue type three epidemic strain that occurred early this year.

But he said it was unlikely the strain had persisted through from last season.

People who have had another dengue type previously are at increased risk of more serious illness with a second dose of the disease.

This can include complications such as dengue haemorrhagic fever, which can lead to death.

Doctors have been put on alert and disease surveillance and mosquito control staff will be patrolling over the Christmas break.

The north Queensland dengue epidemic during the last wet season was the worst in 50 years.

More than 1,000 people were infected with the virus during the outbreak, which began in November 2008, including an elderly woman who died due to complications in March this year.

Dengue mosquitoes breed around homes and in urban areas, and residents have been asked to get rid of water-holding containers and wear strong repellent.

? 2009 AAP

 

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Re: Dengue in Australia

Re: Dengue in Australia

Source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-new...fear-dengue-fever-outbreak-20091222-lawz.html

Authorities fear dengue fever outbreak
December 22, 2009 - 11:14AM

AAP

Health authorities are nervous an outbreak of dengue fever during the Christmas holiday season will be difficult to contain.

Queensland Health has confirmed 12 dengue fever cases in Townsville, north Queensland.

There are two strains of the mosquito-borne virus circulating in the city, with nine people diagnosed as having type one and three as having type three dengue fever.

A Queensland Health spokesman said the wet season combined with the fact that people travel more in the Christmas holidays made it difficult to contain the virus.

"There is concern over Christmas of people moving about and the need to keep this under control," he told AAP.

"We want family and friends to wear insect repellant and to clean up in the yard.

"For those people leaving their homes over Christmas they must remember to not leave anything in the open that can collect water and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes."

More than 1000 people across north Queensland were infected with the virus during the previous outbreak, which began in November last year, including an elderly woman who died due to complications in March.