Dengue fever epidemic hits northern Australia

Authorities in northern Queensland have mounted a major public health and vector control campaign after the country’s first death related to dengue fever since 2004 was confirmed on 4 March.

More than 650 cases of the mosquito borne disease have been confirmed in the area since December, whereas in previous recent episodes 500 or so cases had been spread over more than a year, and this is the first time in Australia that all four serotypes have been found circulating simultaneously.

The largest outbreak, of type 3 dengue, is centred on the tourist …