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Quarantinable diseases

In Australia, the human diseases proclaimed to be quarantinable under the Quarantine Act 1908 are cholera, plague, rabies, yellow fever, and four viral haemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Crimean-Congo). Cholera, plague, yellow fever and the viral haemorrhagic fevers are of international public health significance with mandatory reporting to the WHO under international health regulations (http://www.who.int/./topics/international_health_regulations/en/index.html). Rabies is a disease of both human and animal quarantine importance in Australia. All States and Territories are required by law to notify the quarantinable diseases to the NNDSS.

The only case of quarantinable disease reported in Australia in 2000 was a case of cholera (V. cholerae 0139). The disease was acquired in Bali, Indonesia. The continued reporting of cholera in travellers returning from foreign countries demonstrates the importance of travellers consuming safe food and drink in areas where cholera is known to occur, including many Asian and South Pacific countries.

Although no cases of rabies or yellow fever were reported in Australia, worldwide these two diseases continue to cause fatalities and travellers should be aware of measures they can take to prevent infection with these viruses. Travellers intending to visit central Africa or central South America are encouraged to receive the yellow fever vaccine from an approved Australian vaccination centre. Information on quarantinable diseases can be found on the DoHA Website at: http://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-quaranti-index.htm.


This article was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 26, No 2, June 2002