QLD: Brisbane to assist northern dengue battle

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2009
QLD: Brisbane to assist northern dengue battle

BRISBANE, Feb 18 AAP - Brisbane City Council is sending environmental health experts
to North Queensland to help battle the region's dengue fever outbreak.

North Queensland is recording about 50 new cases of the debilitating, mosquito-borne
disease each week.

Cairns has logged 372 cases of dengue fever so far; Townsville 62; and there has been
one instance in Port Douglas.

Brisbane councillor Geraldine Knapp said Queensland Health had requested experienced
environmental health officers and field officers, together with mosquito control equipment.

Twenty Brisbane council staff members will be sent on a rotational basis, with the
first group leaving Brisbane on Monday, March 2.

Ms Knapp said the council's assistance would not only be valuable to towns in North
Queensland, but also help Brisbane keep dengue and other diseases at bay.

The council officers will assist with household audits, educating residents and mosquito control.

AAP stg/srp

KEYWORD: DENGUE

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