Dengue fever is an acute febrile illness characterised by frontal headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia and rash. This number is likely to represent only a small proportion of the cases that actually occurred. Therefore a significant number of Townsville residents are likely to have immune systems 'primed' by previous infection and further outbreaks of different dengue serotypes in Townsville could potentially result in severe disease or dengue haemorrhagic fever as described above. The majority had been serving as part of the Australian Defence Force, but there were also a few aid workers, journalists and others. This report describes preparations made for, and the public health management of, the importations that did occur.
Dengue fever is a notifiable disease in Queensland.
Based on the accepted maximum viraemic period 5 and incubation period 6 for dengue, notification was requested for any cases developing a dengue-like illness within 12 days before, or 14 days after, arriving in Townsville from East Timor. Medical practitioners in Townsville were also alerted to the situation by letter and reminded of the need for urgent notification of suspected cases. Mosquito surveillance and control Preventative measures aimed at reducing Aedes aegypti populations in high-risk areas are routine in north Queensland. In late 1999 prior to the arrival of returning personnel, and before the wet season, TPHU, local government and Defence Force staff held planning meetings. Queensland Health's dengue fever pamphlets outlining information on the disease and dengue preventive measures were made available in large numbers for distribution by the Defence Forces to personnel prior to their departure for East Timor or return to north Queensland.