Respiratory pandemics, urban planning and design: A multidisciplinary rapid review of the literature.

COVID-19 is the most recent respiratory pandemic to necessitate better knowledge about city planning and design. The complex connections between cities and pandemics, however challenge traditional approaches to reviewing literature. In this article we adopted a rapid review methodology.

Field effectiveness of hepatitis A vaccine and uptake of post exposure prophylaxis following a change to the Australian guidelines.

Background: In 2009, national guidelines for hepatitis A control in Australia changed to recommend hepatitis A vaccine (HAV), instead of normal human immune globulin (NHIG), for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Aims: (1) Determine whether the uptake of PEP among contacts of hepatitis A cases changed after the introduction of the new guidelines, and (2) assess the field effectiveness of the HAV used as PEP in preventing infection among contacts of hepatitis A cases.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of contacts from hepatitis A cases reported to metropolitan Public Health Units in Sydney, Australia, between October 2008 and June 2010, was identified.

Trends in notifiable blood lead levels in NSW, 1998-2008.

Aim: In the absence of published statewide notification data, the aim of this study was to analyse trends in notifiable blood lead levels (hereafter referred to as lead poisoning) in NSW from 1998 to 2008, to help inform lead poisoning notification policy.

Methods: NSW blood lead poisoning notification data for 1998-2008 were extracted from the Notifiable Diseases Database and analysed by age, gender and Area Health Service of residence.

Results: There were 6000 lead poisoning notifications from 1998 to 2008, with an average annual notification rate of 11.

Trends and risk factors for hepatitis A in NSW, 2000-2009: the trouble with travel.

Aim: To analyse trends in hepatitis A notifications and information on exposure to risk factors, in particular international travel, collected through routine surveillance in NSW.

Methods: Hepatitis A notification data for the period 2000-2009 were extracted from the Notifiable Diseases Database and analysed by age group, gender, area of residence and exposure risk factors, including travel, food eaten and contact with other possible infectious cases.

Results: The notification rate for hepatitis A in NSW fell from 3.