Epidemic polyarthritis (Ross River) virus infection in the Cook Islands
Rosen, L.; Gubler, D.J.; Bennett, P.H.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 30(6): 1294-1302
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 7325286 Document Number: 170071
An epidemic of Ross River virus infection occurred in the Cook Islands in the Pacific early in 1980 and affected the majority of the inhabitants of Rarotonga, the most populated island in the group. This represents the easternmost extension of the virus which, until 1979, was believed limited to Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The clinical manifestations of Ross River disease, predominantly polyarthritis, did not differ significantly from those observed previously in Australia. However, unlike the experience in Australia where Ross River virus has never been isolated from a patient with polyarthritis, the agent was recovered from the serum of half of approximately 100 such patients with serologically proven infections. It is not known if this latter observation is the result of a change in the virus, the different virus isolation technique employed, or other factors. It was found that the incubation period of the disease could be as short as 3 days, much less than previously suspected. Ross River virus was isolated from 6 pools of Aedes polynesiensis Marks, and it appeared that this species was the most probable vector on Rarotonga. In view of the widespread distribution of A. polynesiensis on islands in the eastern Pacific it would not be surprising if Ross River virus occurs in other previously unaffected areas in the future.