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Queensland sees dengue return
Thursday, 19 November, 2009
Dengue fever has returned to north Queensland. During the last outbreak, which ended only three months ago, more than 1000 people were infected. Early summer rain has created conditions ideal for the dengue-carrying mosquito to breed. Three Cairns residents have been diagnosed with dengue after travelling to Malaysia, India and Viet Nam. In the Townsville suburb of Garbutt dengue has been diagnosed in someone who has not travelled implying that mosquitoes have been infected by a person with unrecognised illness. GPs in Cairns and Townsville have been alerted to dengue's return. Quarantining is not mandatory but the infected patients have been asked to self-quarantine. Residents are being asked to report to a doctor for blood testing if a fever with aches and pains develops.
