An outbreak of dengue virus type 3 on Mer Island in the Torres Strait, Australia in 2024

Abstract

In early 2024, there were eight confirmed cases of locally acquired dengue on Mer Island in the Torres Strait. This dengue outbreak prompted an in-community public health response which included active case finding, health promotion and vector control. This was the first detected dengue outbreak in the Torres Strait since 2017. It highlights the importance of testing in primary healthcare, vector control and ongoing public health surveillance to minimise the risk of local transmission and establishment of endemic viruses which may cause significant and potentially life-threatening disease within populations in northern Australia.