A protracted mumps outbreak in Western Australia despite high vaccine coverage: a population-based surveillance study.

Background: In 2007-08, a genotype J mumps outbreak occurred among Aboriginal people in northern Western Australia, despite high vaccine coverage. In March, 2015, a second protracted mumps outbreak occurred in northern Western Australia and spread widely across rural areas of the state. This time the outbreak was caused by a genotype G virus and again primarily affected Aboriginal people.

Re-emergence of thiamine deficiency disease in the Pacific islands (2014-15): A case-control study.

Background: From late 2014 multiple atolls in Kiribati reported an unusual and sometimes fatal illness. We conducted an investigation to identify the etiology of the outbreak on the most severely affected atoll, Kuria, and identified thiamine deficiency disease as the cause. Thiamine deficiency disease has not been reported in the Pacific islands for >5 decades.

Hepatitis A outbreak associated with kava drinking.

Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), with transmission occurring through the faecal-oral route. In May 2013, a case of hepatitis A infection was reported to a Western Australian regional public health unit, with infection acquired in Fiji. Following this, 2 further cases were linked to the index case by kava drinking and 1 further case was a household contact of a secondary case.

Should there be a standardised approach to the diagnostic workup of suspected adult encephalitis? A case series from Australia.

Background: The clinical diagnosis of encephalitis is often difficult and identification of a causative organism is infrequent. The encephalitis syndrome may herald the emergence of novel pathogens with outbreak potential. Individual treatment and an effective public health response rely on identifying a specific pathogen.

Field exercises are useful for improving public health emergency responses.

Problem: Emergencies resulting from disease outbreaks and extreme environmental events present significant challenges for health services.

Context: Preparing to effectively manage emergencies is a core activity in public health units. Field exercises support consolidation of biopreparedness by testing plans, identifying weaknesses, providing training opportunities and developing surge capacity.

Encephalitis in Australia, 1979-2006: trends and aetiologies.

The acute encephalitis syndrome has heralded the emergence of multiple virulent pathogens, including Murray Valley encephalitis, Hendra virus and Australian bat lyssavirus, which may result in severe morbidity and mortality. In Australia, encephalitis is not notifiable and there has been no analysis of trends in encephalitis death rates or causation. Australian Bureau of Statistics mortality and population data for the period 1979-2006 were obtained and cause of death data were extracted using ICD-9 (1979-1998) and ICD-10 (1999-2006) codes that included all relevant encephalitis related diagnoses.

Etiology of encephalitis in Australia, 1990-2007.

Encephalitis is a clinical syndrome commonly caused by emerging pathogens, which are not under surveillance in Australia. We reviewed rates of hospitalization for patients with encephalitis in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, from January 1990 through December 2007. Encephalitis was the primary discharge diagnosis for 5,926 hospital admissions; average annual hospitalization rate was 5.

Lessons from the Pacific programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: a case study of 5 countries.

Background: Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is an important Neglected Tropical Disease, being a major cause of disability worldwide. The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis aims to eliminate LF as a public health problem by the year 2020, primarily through repeated Mass Drug Administration (MDA). The Pacific region programme commenced in 1999.

A norovirus outbreak associated with consumption of NSW oysters: implications for quality assurance systems.

Norovirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks associated with raw shellfish consumption. In Australia there have been several reports of norovirus outbreaks associated with oysters despite the application of regulatory measures recommended by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. This study describes an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis following the consumption of New South Wales oysters.