Dengue fever warning for north Queensland as Cyclone Yasi clean-up gathers pace
AUTHORITIES are warning of a dengue fever outbreak in cyclone-devastated north Queensland as an influx of volunteers and workers arrive to help communities recover.
A Queensland Health spokesman has emphasised the outbreak had not been caused by Yasi, given the time it takes for the mosquito-borne virus to incubate.
He said there were 33 cases in Townsville, with another test result pending.
It's always 33 cases, 33 ppl ....
Symptoms range from a sudden onset of fever, intense headaches, muscle and joint pain and in severe cases haemorrhagic fever.
The virus is transmitted to humans from the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
It can be prevented by making sure there was no stagnant water lying around and by taking personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites, such as wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and using insect repellent.
Posted: 11:14:32 AM
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