Tropical Public Health Services director Dr. Richard Gair warned that a recent health scare threatens residents of far north Queensland as a dengue-like mosquito-borne virus is likely to reach the vicinity amid the recent outbreak in Papua New Guinea where over 3000 people contracted it, the AAP reported.

The virus-carrying mosquito resides in both places so a potential outbreak can be expected.

In Queensland, ten out of the 11 individuals who have been diagnosed with chikungunya, a virus infection transmitted by the same Dengue-carrying mosquito, got the virus from Papua New Guinea. One was bitten while at Indonesia. Most of these people live outside far north Queensland tough.

Then again, although there has been no record of infections contracted in Australia, Gair reminds the general public that "every import is a potential outbreak."

Symptoms of chikungunya and dengue illness are similar primarily because of their common source. People suffering from such health concerns experiences fever, rashes and prolonged pain in the joint.

"The difference between them is that with chikungunya we might well see the transmission happening quite a bit faster," explained Gain.

So aside from ensuring that your premises is not a breeding ground of disease-carrying mosquitoes, following the advice of Gain, below are other ways on how you can protect yourself from harm.

You may suspect to be infected by the virus if headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, tiredness, rash, stiffness and pain keep you from functioning well. It is best to pay a visit to the doctor at the first signs of such symptoms.

Based on the information provided by the NSW Ministry of Health, the symptoms may last from days to weeks.

  • Wear clothes that limit the amount of skin left exposed.
  • Apply and reapply insect repellent on the skin.
  • Check the screens for any holes and look around to find other openings through which the mosquito can penetrate then cover them. Perform repairs where necessary.
  • For those who are travelling in places where the virus is found, protect yourself from being bitten.
  • Blood test may be performed to confirm the infection.
  • The doctor may prescribe the use of anti-inflammatory medicines to relieve the discomfort.
  • Since the virus-carrying mosquito can attack at any given time and treatment is yet to be established, it is important to make sure that your defences are always in place.