18 JUNE 1998. AUSTRALIA: DISEASE (DENGUE) Radio Australia - World News: "Health officials say vigilance is needed to halt the spread of dengue fever to new areas. Nationally 270 cases of dengue fever have been reported - compared to 188 last year. Dengue fever is restricted to northern Queensland, where the carrying mosquito can be found. The biggest dengue outbreak recently was in Cairns, with the strain originating in Thailand. A year before 200 cases were a strain from African nation Burkino Faso. The mosquito [vector] has now spread towards the Northern Territory and New South Wales borders. The report says another [vector] mosquito from Asia and Papua New Guinea is an ongoing threat, especially if it continues to arrive in ships or on planes." --Robin Hide rhide@coombs.anu.edu.au VIA ProMED-mail post http://www.healthnet.org/programs/promed.html.

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