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Quarantinable diseases

In Australia in 2001, the human diseases which were covered by the Quarantine Act 1908 were cholera, plague, rabies, yellow fever, and four viral haemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Crimean-Congo). These infections are of international public health significance, with mandatory reporting to the WHO. All states and territories notify quarantinable diseases to the NNDSS.

Four cases of cholera were the only reports of quarantinable disease notified in Australia in 2001. All cases were imported and occurred in two males and two females in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. The organism was identified in one case as V. cholerae 01 - El Tor Inaba, imported from Hong Kong; another as V. cholerae 01, imported from Bali, Indonesia and a third as V. cholerae 01 - Ogawa, which also was acquired in Bali. The occurrence of cholera in returning travellers demonstrates the importance of consuming safe food and drink in areas where cholera is known to occur.

Two human cases of rabies, in which symptoms developed in Australia, were the result of overseas exposure in 1987 and 1990. ³⁹ Although no cases of rabies or yellow fever were reported in Australia in 2001, 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's website: (http://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-quarantine.htm).


This article was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 27, No 1, March 2003.