Public health implications of dengue in personnel returning from East Timor.

In north Queensland the vector of dengue fever (Aedes aegypti) is present; hence any viraemic individual importing dengue has the potential to transmit the disease locally. In early 2000 approximately 2,000 personnel returned from East Timor to Townsville, north Queensland. Seven importations of dengue occurred and individual cases were viraemic for up to 6 days in Townsville. No subsequent local transmission occurred. There were 3 cases each of dengue type 2 and dengue type 3. One case could not be serotyped. A response, including mosquito control measures, was initiated in another 18 cases in which dengue fever was clinically suspected but which subsequently proved not to be dengue. The planning and processes undertaken to prevent local transmission of dengue in Townsville during an intense period are described.