Palm Island mystery disease
![View of Palm Island from Wallaby Point](/Images/godic/202501/17/View_of_Palm_Island_from_wallaby_point4800.JPG")
In 1979 an outbreak of hepatoenteritis, also known as the Palm Island mystery disease, was reported and described a hepatitis-like illness (associated in many cases with dehydration and bloody diarrhoea) in 148 people (138 children and 10 adults) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent in Palm Island, Queensland.