6 AUGUST 1998. AUSTRALIA:
DISEASE (DENGUE) "We have had an ongoing battle with the dreaded dengue
3 (DEN 3) virus since December. Fighting tooth and nail, we have been able
to "limit" it to 230 confirmed cases as of 4 August. However, we have been
unable to put it away. Like plugging holes in the leaky boat, we have had
cases show up in new areas as soon as we eliminate it from others. Interestingly,
a concurrent outbreak of DEN 2 virus, the "common" S. Pacific strain, was
eliminated within a month, while other outbreaks in N. Queensland have
been eradicated within 2-3 months of onset. This DEN 3 virus keeps one
step ahead of us, despite our use of interior spraying with pyrethroid
insecticides.
Other features of the outbreak
include: 1. high virulence (ca. 20% hospitalised) and 2. clustering within
households The latter suggest that one mosquito is causing grief." -- Scott
Ritchie <RITCHIES@health.qld.gov.au VIA ProMED http://www.healthnet.org/programs/promed.html.
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1997 El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO 97-98)