title: Investigation of the First Case of Dengue Virus Infection Acquired in Western Australia in Seven Decades: Evidence of Importation of Infected Mosquitoes?
abstract: In October 2013, a locally-acquired case of dengue virus (DENV) infection was reported in Western Australia (WA) where local dengue transmission has not occurred for over 70 years. Laboratory testing confirmed recent DENV infection and the case demonstrated a clinically compatible illness. The infection was most likely acquired in the Pilbara region in the northwest of WA. Follow up investigations did not detect any other locally-acquired dengue cases or any known dengue vector species in the local region, despite intensive adult and larval mosquito surveillance, both immediately after the case was notified in October 2013 and after the start of the wet season in January 2014. The mechanism of infection with DENV in this case cannot be confirmed. However, it most likely followed a bite from a single infected mosquito vector that was transiently introduced into the Pilbara region but failed to establish a local breeding population. This case highlights the public health importance of maintaining surveillance efforts to ensure that any incursions of dengue vectors into WA are promptly identified and do not become established, particularly given the large numbers of viraemic dengue fever cases imported into WA by travellers returning from dengue-endemic regions.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael D A
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jardine
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giele
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: South West Population Health Unit, Department of Health, Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.affiliation: South West Population Health Unit, Department of Health, Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Naru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Pilbara Population Health Unit, Department of Health, Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lyttle
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.affiliation: PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology*; D003715:Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003716:Dengue Virus; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D014195:Travel; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology