Experts worry about Townsville dengue status

Health authorities are concerned dengue fever is in danger of becoming endemic to north Queensland.

Health authorities are concerned dengue fever is in danger of becoming endemic to north Queensland.Townsville’s current outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease has been lingering for more than six months.Eight new cases have been reported in the past week, in North Ward, Aitkenvale and Currajong.John Piispanen from the Tropical Public Health Unit says if residents do not act to prevent the spread of the dengue mosquito, the disease will become a constant problem.”We’re on the cusp if we can’t control it now with the onset of the cool weather,” he said.”The cool weather just slows the mosquito breeding cycle down, if we can’t control it now the prognosis for Townsville is going to be pretty bad if dengue stays here all the time.”(Source: ABC Health News, April 2004)