VZCZCXRO3113
OO RUEHPT
DE RUEHBY #0019 0080607
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 080607Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2496
INFO RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 5593
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 2662
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 1861
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3793
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0205
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE 6887
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 5151
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 5158
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000019 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES/IHA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO SENV AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA BRACES FOR MOSQUITO BORNE DISEASE JUMP 
 
¶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 Assistant Secretary for Surveillance 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 
mosquitos, 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