Zika testing ramps up in Townsville

A major expansion of Townsville Hospital’s pathology laboratory has provided additional capacity to screen for Zika virus in North Queensland.

The Townsville Hospital’s pathology lab is now testing all dengue fever requests in North Queensland for Zika virus.

Minister for Health Cameron Dick said bolstering testing capacity in North Queensland was a sensible and measured response to a major Zika virus outbreak in central and south America.

“The mosquito that transmits dengue and Zika virus is predominately found in North Queensland so it is prudent to boost our testing capacity in Townsville,” he said.

“While we have had no local transmission of Zika in Queensland, it is important that we have appropriately resourced testing facilities on the ground.”

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke said two major pieces of equipment have been installed at the Townsville Hospital to enable the new tests.

“This expansion is part of our government’s $400,000 commitment bolster testing facilities in Queensland,” she said.

“We are now in a position to conduct the new tests not just for Townsville residents but all of North Queensland.

“By having the capacity to test for Zika virus locally we will be able to confirm results much faster than we would if they needed to be done in Brisbane.

“I’m also pleased to announce our government will be investing a further $160,000 in funding to prevent outbreaks before they begin through increasing mosquitoes control activities.

“Our government want to ensure Queensland is prepared for the fight against Zika and we will continue to roll out measures to combat this virus.”

Director of Townsville Public Health Unit Dr Steven Donohue said the additional equipment and funding would make a significant difference.

“This additional funding will increase our ability to undertake vector-control activities, particularly in areas with high numbers of the dengue/Zika mosquito,” he said.

“Preventative work, community mobilisation in removing mosquito breeding sites, quicker local testing and detection all play important roles in protecting our community from mosquito-borne illnesses.”

Dr Donohue said it was important the community were informed about the diseases carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

“Now more than ever it is vital that our community have the facts about the Aedes aegypti mosquito,” he said.

“The best way to kill these mosquitoes is to spray in and around your home in dark hiding places with an ordinary surface or cockroach insect spray.

“Removing breeding sites in and around homes and killing these mosquitoes needs to become as natural as putting out the garbage bins.”

The Townsville Hospital’s Director of Microbiology and Pathology Dr Robert Norton said the new equipment would increase the lab’s ability to conduct PCR tests.

“We use PCR tests to confirm a range of illnesses from influenza to adeno virus to chicken pox and with this extra capacity we will now also be able to test for Zika,” he said.

There have been 18 imported cases of Zika virus in Queensland in 2016.

More information about Zika virus can be found at: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-alerts/health-alerts/zika/

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:   Anna Jabour - Minister Dick's Office 0429 890 942

Alana Iles - Minister O'Rourke's Office 0434 849 454

Townsville HHS   0409 265 298 | 4433 1016