Via WA Today :
" A Perth council has issued a warning about mosquito-borne Ross River virus after it emerged that in the area more people have contracted the virus in the past two months than in all of 2011.
In a statement today, the City of Cockburn said it had 62 reported cases of Ross River virus in the area since January 1, almost triple the 21 cases reported in 2011.
There has been a similar rise across the state in the past two months, with 511 cases state-wide since the start of the year. This is more than the total number of cases in all of 2010, when there was just 245."
Showing posts with label WA Today. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WA Today. Show all posts
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Australia : Deadly mosquito virus still thriving in WA
Via WA Today :
" More cases of mosquito-borne viruses have been detected in the state's Kimberley and Pilbara regions more than two months after three people were killed by the virus in three Australian states.
Murray Valley encephalitis was continuing to be detected across the state which medical entomologist Sue Harrington said was unusual given it was so far into the dry season.
She said it indicated an "ongoing and persistent activity of the virus".
One person has died in WA and a further nine people have been found to have contracted the mosquito-borne virus this year. Another person was currently being monitored and was believed to be the 11th person with MVE.
"Murray Valley encephalitis is carried by mosquitoes, and while the risk of being infected and becoming unwell is low, the illnesses can be severe and people should take sensible precautions to avoid mosquito bites," she said.
She said monitoring results, undertaken in conjunction with the University of WA, found that although mosquito numbers were quite low, the rare but potentially fatal virus was still being detected.
A man died in the north-west region of WA in early May after contracting the virus. Later that month, it also claimed the lived of a Canadian tourist who visited the Northern Territory and a South Australian man."
" More cases of mosquito-borne viruses have been detected in the state's Kimberley and Pilbara regions more than two months after three people were killed by the virus in three Australian states.
Murray Valley encephalitis was continuing to be detected across the state which medical entomologist Sue Harrington said was unusual given it was so far into the dry season.
She said it indicated an "ongoing and persistent activity of the virus".
One person has died in WA and a further nine people have been found to have contracted the mosquito-borne virus this year. Another person was currently being monitored and was believed to be the 11th person with MVE.
"Murray Valley encephalitis is carried by mosquitoes, and while the risk of being infected and becoming unwell is low, the illnesses can be severe and people should take sensible precautions to avoid mosquito bites," she said.
She said monitoring results, undertaken in conjunction with the University of WA, found that although mosquito numbers were quite low, the rare but potentially fatal virus was still being detected.
A man died in the north-west region of WA in early May after contracting the virus. Later that month, it also claimed the lived of a Canadian tourist who visited the Northern Territory and a South Australian man."
Monday, January 10, 2011
Australia's bid to wipe out dengue fever
Via WA Today :
" Tens of thousands of lives could be saved each year by a groundbreaking Australian scheme to wipe out dengue fever.
Scientists have developed a bacterium that acts as a vaccine for mosquitoes, which could in turn stop the disease spreading in humans.
Professor Scott O'Neill, from the University of Queensland, says he is "incredibly excited" as a 12-week field trial starts in the Cairns suburbs of Yorkeys Knob and Gordonvale.
With up to 100 million people - largely from developing countries - being infected with dengue fever each year, a global solution was long overdue, he said.
Up to 40,000 people die, because families in poorer nations are unable to seek health care."
" Tens of thousands of lives could be saved each year by a groundbreaking Australian scheme to wipe out dengue fever.
Scientists have developed a bacterium that acts as a vaccine for mosquitoes, which could in turn stop the disease spreading in humans.
Professor Scott O'Neill, from the University of Queensland, says he is "incredibly excited" as a 12-week field trial starts in the Cairns suburbs of Yorkeys Knob and Gordonvale.
With up to 100 million people - largely from developing countries - being infected with dengue fever each year, a global solution was long overdue, he said.
Up to 40,000 people die, because families in poorer nations are unable to seek health care."
Friday, December 17, 2010
Indonesia : Bali travel warning as dengue fever spreads
Via WA Today :
" A worrying spike in the number of Bali holiday-makers returning to WA with the potentially-fatal disease dengue fever has sparked a Health Department warning to travellers.
The Health Department's communicable disease control director Paul Armstrong said there had been over 430 reports of dengue fever in West Australians this year, three times as many as there were at the same time last year.
"Most of these cases are associated with travel to Bali," Dr Armstrong said.
"Travellers to developing countries need to be very careful with the food they eat and the water they drink."
The potentially deadly disease is carried by mosquitoes that tend to congregate in tropical areas and commonly bite during the day.
Symptoms can develop within three to 14 days of being bitten and include fever, vomiting, severe headaches, aching joints and muscles, rashes and pain behind the eyes."
" A worrying spike in the number of Bali holiday-makers returning to WA with the potentially-fatal disease dengue fever has sparked a Health Department warning to travellers.
The Health Department's communicable disease control director Paul Armstrong said there had been over 430 reports of dengue fever in West Australians this year, three times as many as there were at the same time last year.
"Most of these cases are associated with travel to Bali," Dr Armstrong said.
"Travellers to developing countries need to be very careful with the food they eat and the water they drink."
The potentially deadly disease is carried by mosquitoes that tend to congregate in tropical areas and commonly bite during the day.
Symptoms can develop within three to 14 days of being bitten and include fever, vomiting, severe headaches, aching joints and muscles, rashes and pain behind the eyes."
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Australia : Two NT men die with swine flu
Via WA Today :
" Two elderly men suffering from swine flu have died as the Northern Territory experiences an upsurge in infection rates from the virus.
It is understood the men, both of whom had serious underlying health problems, were the first people to die with swine flu in the NT this year.
It takes the total number of known swine flu-related deaths nationally so far this year to 14, compared to 191 in 2009.
Since the first case of swine flu in May 2009, according to the latest Australian Influenza Surveillance Report, prior to September 10 this year there were almost 40,000 confirmed cases of H1N1, or swine flu, in Australia.
The Australian federal government report showed that only 2,300 of those cases occurred in 2010."
" Two elderly men suffering from swine flu have died as the Northern Territory experiences an upsurge in infection rates from the virus.
It is understood the men, both of whom had serious underlying health problems, were the first people to die with swine flu in the NT this year.
It takes the total number of known swine flu-related deaths nationally so far this year to 14, compared to 191 in 2009.
Since the first case of swine flu in May 2009, according to the latest Australian Influenza Surveillance Report, prior to September 10 this year there were almost 40,000 confirmed cases of H1N1, or swine flu, in Australia.
The Australian federal government report showed that only 2,300 of those cases occurred in 2010."
Friday, July 2, 2010
India : Bali travel warning after dengue fever outbreak
Via WA Today :
" Travellers are being cautioned over visiting Bali amid a worrying outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus dengue fever.
The WA Health Department has warned the number of those suffering from the disease has topped 150 so far this year, up from a total of 16 in 2006.
Symptoms include fever, severe headache, aching joints and muscles, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting and a rash and usually occur within three to 14 days of being bitten.
Director of Communicable Disease Control Dr Paul Armstrong said that while most people recovered completely from the illness, there was a risk of developing a rare but potentially fatal form of the disease.
He said the mosquito that transmits dengue fever commonly bites during the day and in shady, indoor venues."
" Travellers are being cautioned over visiting Bali amid a worrying outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus dengue fever.
The WA Health Department has warned the number of those suffering from the disease has topped 150 so far this year, up from a total of 16 in 2006.
Symptoms include fever, severe headache, aching joints and muscles, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting and a rash and usually occur within three to 14 days of being bitten.
Director of Communicable Disease Control Dr Paul Armstrong said that while most people recovered completely from the illness, there was a risk of developing a rare but potentially fatal form of the disease.
He said the mosquito that transmits dengue fever commonly bites during the day and in shady, indoor venues."
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