Facemask against viral respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A challenging cluster-randomized trial.

Background: In this large-scale cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT) we sought to assess the effectiveness of facemasks against viral respiratory infections.

Methods And Results: Over three consecutive Hajj seasons (2013, 2014, 2015) pilgrims' tents in Makkah were allocated to 'facemask' or 'no facemask' group. Fifty facemasks were offered to participants in intervention tents, to be worn over four days, and none were offered to participants in control tents.

Replication and Excretion of the Live Attenuated Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine CYD-TDV in a Flavivirus-Naive Adult Population: Assessment of Vaccine Viremia and Virus Shedding.

Background: We assessed replication and excretion of the live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) into biological fluids following vaccination in dengue-naive adults in Australia.

Methods: Vaccinal viremia/shedding was assessed in a subset of participants enrolled in a lot-to-lot consistency study; 95 participants received 3 subcutaneous doses of CYD-TDV from phase 2/3 lots of the vaccine, and 8 received placebo; doses were administered 6 months apart. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qR-PCR) analysis was used to initially detect the yellow fever virus (YFV) core protein gene in the backbone of CYD-TDV in serum, saliva and urine, followed by serotype-specific qRT-PCR analysis of samples positive for YFV by qRT-PCR (lower limit of detection, 5.

Lot-to-lot consistency of a tetravalent dengue vaccine in healthy adults in Australia: a randomised study.

Background: The recombinant yellow fever-17D-dengue virus, live, attenuated, tetravalent dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) has undergone extensive clinical trials. Here safety and consistency of immunogenicity of phase III manufacturing lots of CYD-TDV were evaluated and compared with a phase II lot and placebo in a dengue-naïve population.

Methods: Healthy 18-60 year-olds were randomly assigned in a 3:3:3:3:1 ratio to receive three subcutaneous doses of either CYD-TDV from any one of three phase III lots or a phase II lot, or placebo, respectively in a 0, 6, 12 month dosing schedule.

Epidemiology of respiratory viral infections in children enrolled in a study of influenza vaccine effectiveness.

Background: Influenza-like illness (ILI) confers a high annual morbidity in young children. We report the epidemiology of ILIs in children who participated in an influenza vaccine effectiveness study during the 2010 Southern Hemisphere influenza season in Sydney, Australia.

Methods: Children aged 0·5-3 years were prospectively recruited from child care centres (CCCs).

Treating and preventing influenza in aged care facilities: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Influenza is an important cause of morbidity and mortality for frail older people. Whilst the antiviral drug oseltamivir (a neuraminidase inhibitor) is approved for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza during outbreaks, there have been no trials comparing treatment only (T) versus treatment and prophylaxis (T&P) in Aged Care Facilities (ACFs). Our objective was to compare a policy of T versus T&P for influenza outbreaks in ACFs.

Cross-reacting antibodies against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus in older Australians.

Objective: To assess background pre-pandemic cross-reacting antibodies to the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in older populations in Australia.

Design, Setting And Participants: Data were opportunistically generated from three cross-sectional pre-pandemic studies involving people aged 60 years or older: a 3-year (2006-2008) study of influenza outbreaks in aged care facilities (ACFs) in Sydney; an investigation of a respiratory virus outbreak in an ACF in rural New South Wales in June 2009; and a non-influenza serosurvey undertaken in NSW in 2007 and 2008.

Main Outcome Measure: Prevalence of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 haemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody titres ≥ 1:40 (putative protective level) in pre-pandemic sera.

Perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus: an Australian experience.

Objective: To determine the rate of perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in an Australian setting and to identify maternal virological factors associated with highest risk of transmission.

Design, Participants And Setting: A prospective, observational study of perinatal transmission of HBV. Participants were pregnant women attending Sydney South West Area Health Service antenatal clinics who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and their babies.

Methaemoglobinaemia following ingestion of a commonly available food additive.

Five cases of methaemoglobinaemia after ingestion of sodium nitrite occurred in two clusters in Sydney in 2006. All cases were unintentional poisonings following use in cooking of an imported compound sold as a food additive. In all cases, methaemoglobinaemia was recognised early and treated promptly, with all patients making a full recovery.

Planning for pandemic influenza surveillance in NSW.

Early detection of a novel strain (genotype) of influenza virus in the NSW population is the key to controlling a pandemic. If this occurs, ongoing surveillance will help determine the epidemiology and risk factors of the virus as well as its impact on essential services. Important components of surveillance preparedness in NSW include: border surveillance; hospital-based screening for suspected cases; protocols for efficient transport and testing of viral specimens; flexible, robust electronic tools for rapid surveillance data collection; management and reporting; and creation of surveillance surge capacity.

A novel hepatitis B vaccination regimen for adolescents: two doses 12 months apart.

Background: Two- and three-dose hepatitis B vaccinations for adolescents are usually administered using dosing schedules of 6 months duration. This does not suit all circumstances. A 12-month schedule would be useful in schools and settings where only annual vaccination is the most practical option.