Influenza Vaccination for Pregnant Women
January 10th, 2012

A strong new statement from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of obstetrician and Gynaecologists promoting routine influenza vaccination of  pregnant women has recently been published http://www.ranzcog.edu.au/womens-health/statements-a-guidelines/new-a-revised-statements-and-guidelines/744-influenzavaccinationforpregnantwomenc-obs45.html

Tuberculosis and Health Care Workers
September 27th, 2011

The Department of Health WA recently issued the Operational Directive OD 0342/11: Tuberculosis and Health Care Workers. This document addresses the assessment for TB risk of students and employees in health-related work and recommends minimum precautions that healht care facilities (both public and private) in Western Australia should undertake to minimise the risk of TB transmission within the health care system.

See www.health.wa.gov.au/circularsnew

2011 Influenza Season Has Commenced
July 28th, 2011

The Influenza Specialist Group has just issued a press release, warning that increasing rates of influenza have been confirmed in several regions around Australia, and that the continuing trend indicates that the peak flu season is rapidly approaching. However, there is still time for people, especially those in at-risk groups and those around them, to protect themselves by vaccination.

The ISG recommends that people in at-risk groups and healthy Australians who wish to avoid infection, see their GP and seek vaccination now in order to protect themselves and avoid passing the infection on to others.  And while vaccination is the most effective way to prevent catching influenza, if you do contract influenza there are antiviral medications available on prescription that can shorten the length and reduce the severity of the illness.  However these must be taken within the first two days of onset of symptoms.

Visit http://www.influenzaspecialistgroup.org.au/home

Upgraded mosquito-borne disease in northern and central Western Australia
April 10th, 2011

On 23 March 2011 the Department of Health upgraded the warning to people living and holidaying in northern and central Western Australia to take extra care to avoid mosquito bites. This warning follows widespread detection of the mosquito-borne Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin viruses and an increase in reports of people with Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus diseases.

The Department of Health’s surveillance program (undertaken by The University of Western Australia) has detected widespread activity of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus and Kunjin virus in several locations in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne regions.  While there have been no confirmed MVE or Kunjin infections in people to date, infection with these viruses can cause very severe illness.

Updated Alert: Legionnaires’ Disease Associated with Travel to Bali
January 19th, 2011

There have been a further 5 cases of Legionnaires’ disease diagnosed in Australians who holidayed in Bali during December 2010, 3 of whom are from WA, bringing the total since August 2010 to 10.  All cases stayed in the same area in central Kuta. more…