Ross River virus infection in a traveller returning from northern Australia

Abstract

Ross River virus is an arthropod-borne alphavirus (family Togaviridae) causing epidemic polyarthritis in the Australia-Pacific region. The infection causes substantial morbidity due to long-lasting arthralgia. Despite being the most common arboviral infection in Australia, reports in travellers are scarce. Here, we describe the disease in a German traveller who was not aware of the prevalence of this infection in his holiday destination, the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia. The patient had neither fever nor rash, but presented with chills, watery diarrhoea and severe, prolonged arthritis.