title: Surveillance for Ross River virus infection using blood donors.
abstract: The number of clinical Ross River virus (RRV) infections (epidemic polyarthritis) each year in Australia continues to grow despite extensive vector control programs. There is a need, therefore, for a surveillance program that can give sufficient warning of outbreaks of the disease so that highly focused preventative measures may be undertaken. The ability of a surveillance program, based on voluntary Red Cross blood donations, to predict outbreaks of epidemic polyarthritis was evaluated. Anti-RRV IgM antibody was detected in significant numbers of blood donors from throughout the state of Queensland 6-9 weeks prior to an increase in the number of notified cases of epidemic polyarthritis. At a local level, significant numbers of anti-RRV IgM blood donors were detected in Brisbane in 1996 four weeks prior to an increase in the number of notified cases of epidemic polyarthritis. This system of surveillance is technically simple, rapid (results are obtained in 2-3 days), it samples the human population from throughout the state, and it gives timely warning of outbreaks of epidemic polyarthritis.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus Reference and Research, Centre for Molecular Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Aaskov
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Hanh
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dennington
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001782:Blood Donors; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012398:Ross River virus / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M