This article {extract} was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Vol 31 No 1 March 2007 and may be downloaded as a full version PDF from the Table of contents page.

Results, continued

Quarantinable diseases

Human diseases covered by the Quarantine Act 1908, and notifiable in 2005 were cholera, plague, rabies, yellow fever, smallpox, highly pathogenic avian influenza in humans (HPAIH), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and 4 viral haemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Crimean-Congo).

HPAIH was declared a quarantinable disease on 23 March 2004 and consequently became subject to the routine quarantine powers available under the Quarantine Act 1908. SARS was declared a quarantinable disease under the Quarantine Act 1908 on 7 April 2003.

Cholera

Case definition – Cholera Only confirmed cases are reported. Confirmed case: Requires isolation of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139.

In 2005, there were 3 cases of cholera notified in Australia, 2 from Victoria, and 1 from Western Australia. All cases were female. All cases acquired their disease overseas: 2 of the Victorian cases acquired it from Tanzania and the Western Australian case acquired it from Indonesia.

Three notifications were toxin producing Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 Ogawa.

Cholera, plague, rabies, yellow fever, SARS, HPAIH, tuleraemia and viral haemorrhagic fevers are of international public health importance and are notified to the World Health Organization. Although no local transmission had been reported in Australia, these diseases continue to occur around the world. Travellers are advised to seek information on the risk of contracting these diseases in their destinations and take appropriate measures. More information on quarantinable diseases and travel health can be found on DoHA's web site at: http://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-quaranti-index.htm