Dengue in north queensland, 1990-1992

Abstract

Epidemics of dengue fever have occurred sporadically in North Queensland since the first reported cases in 1885. From April 1990 to March 1991, 36 locally acquired cases of infection with dengue virus type 1 were confirmed, either by serology or by virus isolation, in patients from Townsville, Caims and Thursday Island. These were the first cases of locally acquired Dengue Fever for 7 years in North Queensland. The most common symptoms were fever (90%), headache (62%) and rash (60%). No patients had haemorrhagic manifestations, or shock. An outbreak of Dengue Virus infection, which commenced in April 1992, was occurring in North Queensland at the time of abstract publication. By June 1992, at least 60 cases of infection with dengue virus type 2 had been confirmed either by virus isolation or serology in patients from North Queensland, with diagnostic work ongoing as the outbreak continues. The Breteau indices of Aedes aegypti abundance in Townsville and Thursday Island have, at times, indicated a moderate to high risk of Dengue Virus transmission. Dengue Fever outbreaks continue to emerge in North Queensland, with the ongoing risk of dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome.