Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10CANBERRA20
2010-01-08 06:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
CORRECTED COPY -- AUSTRALIA BRACES FOR MOSQUITO
how-toVZCZCXRO3115 OO RUEHPT DE RUEHBY #0020 0080617 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 080617Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2497 INFO RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 5594 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 2663 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 1862 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3794 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0206 RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE 6888 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 5152 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 5159 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM
UNCLAS CANBERRA 000020
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/IHA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO SENV AS
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY -- AUSTRALIA BRACES FOR MOSQUITO
BORNE DISEASE JUMP
CORRECTED COPY -- FIXED FORMATTING ERROR IN PARA 1
UNCLAS CANBERRA 000020
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/IHA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO SENV AS
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY -- AUSTRALIA BRACES FOR MOSQUITO
BORNE DISEASE JUMP
CORRECTED COPY -- FIXED FORMATTING ERROR IN PARA 1
1. (SBU) Australian health authorities are concerned about an
expected jump in the number of mosquito borne diseases in New
South Wales and Southern Queensland, including Ross River
Virus (RRV),following heavy summer rains. Department of
Health and Ageing Surveillance Branch Director Sally
Goodspeed told Econoff January 8 that DOHA is stepping up
coordination with state and local health practitioners and is
trying to head off a big jump in RRV cases in the next few
weeks through a public awareness campaign and heightened
surveillance. The heavy rains and subsequent flooding have
created ideal conditions for a boom in mosquito populations,
and the government is advising residents of flooded areas to
take precautions against mosquitoes, including long clothing,
use of insect repellent, and ensuring mosquito screens are
secure. Another concern is a possible spike in cases of the
related Chikungunya Virus, which has more serious health
impacts and occurs infrequently in Australia but is
widespread in Asia.
2. (SBU) RRV causes joint pain, arthritic fever, and fatigue
with symptoms lasting in many cases for months. Severe cases
can result in debilitating symptoms that last years. RRV and
other mosquito borne diseases are reported to the National
Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. NNDSS data shows that
there were 4729 cases of Ross River Virus and 19 cases of
Chikungunya in 2009.
CLUNE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/IHA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO SENV AS
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY -- AUSTRALIA BRACES FOR MOSQUITO
BORNE DISEASE JUMP
CORRECTED COPY -- FIXED FORMATTING ERROR IN PARA 1
1. (SBU) Australian health authorities are concerned about an
expected jump in the number of mosquito borne diseases in New
South Wales and Southern Queensland, including Ross River
Virus (RRV),following heavy summer rains. Department of
Health and Ageing Surveillance Branch Director Sally
Goodspeed told Econoff January 8 that DOHA is stepping up
coordination with state and local health practitioners and is
trying to head off a big jump in RRV cases in the next few
weeks through a public awareness campaign and heightened
surveillance. The heavy rains and subsequent flooding have
created ideal conditions for a boom in mosquito populations,
and the government is advising residents of flooded areas to
take precautions against mosquitoes, including long clothing,
use of insect repellent, and ensuring mosquito screens are
secure. Another concern is a possible spike in cases of the
related Chikungunya Virus, which has more serious health
impacts and occurs infrequently in Australia but is
widespread in Asia.
2. (SBU) RRV causes joint pain, arthritic fever, and fatigue
with symptoms lasting in many cases for months. Severe cases
can result in debilitating symptoms that last years. RRV and
other mosquito borne diseases are reported to the National
Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. NNDSS data shows that
there were 4729 cases of Ross River Virus and 19 cases of
Chikungunya in 2009.
CLUNE