Dengue Fever in Queensland, Australia

November 18, 2003

Health Canada is monitoring a dengue fever outbreak in the Cairns region of Queensland, Australia.

Dengue fever (DF) is an acute viral illness of varying severity and is spread by the bite of an infected day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquito. It commonly occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. North Queensland is a vector for this mosquito and therefore the area is susceptible to outbreaks.

Last year, Queensland experienced three separate dengue outbreaks: an outbreak of serotype 2 affecting 21 people in Kuranda, an outbreak of serotype 1 affecting one person in Townsville, and an outbreak of serotype 4 - the first occurrence on the country - affecting two people in Cairns. Reported cases in Queensland ranged from almost 700 in 1993 to 62 in 1999.

The illness begins with the sudden onset of flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, muscle aches and joint pain, pain behind the eyes and a faint rash. The fever usually lasts from three to five days, and rarely more than seven days.

Source: Queensland Department of Health

Recommendations

Health Canada strongly recommends that Canadian travellers seek an individual risk assessment consultation with their personal physician or a travel medicine clinic to determine their personal risks. Health Canada further recommends that travellers to countries where dengue fever activity is high take personal insect precautions to avoid being bitten during the day.

For Health Canada recommendations about the prevention of Dengue Fever, visit our disease information page on dengue fever.