A5007393082- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses
- Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Public Health Policies and Education
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Leptospirosis research and findings
- Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
Department of Health and Human Services
2016-2024
University of Florida
2024
Government of Western Australia Department of Health
2011-2022
Government of Victoria
2008-2019
Anglia Ruskin University
2019
Act Health
2019
Austin Health
2016
National Public Health Laboratory
2016
Public Health Laboratory
2016
Australian National University
2008
SUMMARY A recent outbreak of Q fever was linked to an intensive goat and sheep dairy farm in Victoria, Australia, 2012-2014. Seventeen employees one family member were confirmed with over a 28-month period, including two culture-positive cases. The investigation management involved One Health approach representation from human, animal, environmental public health. Seroprevalence non-pregnant milking goats 15% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7–27]; active infection by positive quantitative PCR...
Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI) is a serious complication of asplenia. Clinical guidelines recommend numerous measures to reduce the risk OPSI, but awareness and adherence preventative are generally poor. We aimed determine whether registry for asplenic/hyposplenic patients was associated with reduction in incidence encapsulated bacteria.We performed retrospective cohort study state Victoria, Australia, who registered Spleen Australia from 2003 through 2014. provides...
Abstract Background Waning measles immunity among vaccinated individuals may result in an attenuated illness. This study compares the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory profile of cases with waning other cases. Methods Polymerase chain reaction–positive (+) notified to Victoria’s Department Health Human Services from 2008 2017 immunoglobulin (Ig) M IgG tested at diagnosis were classified according serology diagnosis: negative (−) (nonimmune), IgM+/IgG+ (indeterminate), or IgM−/IgG+...
SUMMARY In March 2007, an outbreak of gastroenteritis was identified at a school camp in rural Victoria, Australia, affecting about half group 55 students. A comprehensive investigation initiated to identify the source. Twenty-seven attendees were found have abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea (attack rate 49%). Of 11 faecal specimens tested all positive for Salmonella Typhimurium definitive phage type 9 (DT9). four samples taken from untreated private water supply, two DT9. Drinking...
Interest in the use of emergency department (ED) data by syndromic surveillance systems to detect influenza outbreaks has been growing. Evaluations these generally focus on events during seasons. The aims this study were identify which disease codes best correlated with confirmed cases and determine if same would be useful non-influenza season. 2009 pandemic Victoria, Australia, provided further opportunity examine performance system event. We undertook a retrospective analysis from...
In Victoria, Australia, invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W increased from 4% of all cases in 2013 to 30% 2015. This increase resulted largely strains similar those the sequence type 11 clonal complex, previously described United Kingdom and South America.
Abstract Background The Victorian Government Department of Health funded a diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine for parents infants from June 2009 to 2012 as part cocooning strategy the control pertussis. aim this study was assess parents’ attitudes awareness vaccination program, estimate uptake. Methods A cross-sectional survey 253 families with child born in first quarter 2010 residing within five metropolitan four rural local government areas Victoria conducted. Univariate...
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been reported among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with (GBM) globally including GBM human immunodeficiency (HIV) HIV-negative GBM, particularly those using HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). In Australia, HCV direct-acting antiviral treatment (DAA) was government-funded from 2016. Large implementation studies of PrEP also began in We examined incidence to assess whether changed since 2015.Data were drawn the Australian Collaboration for...
During the temperate out-of-season months in Australia late 2010 and early 2011, an unprecedented high number of influenza notifications were recorded. We aimed to assess significance these notifications. For Australia, we used laboratory-confirmed cases notified WHO FluNet surveillance tool; percentage that positive; by state type subtype; data from Google FluTrends. Victoria, influenza-like illness (ILI) proportions. compared virus characterisation using haemagglutination-inhibition assays...
Recent studies have used Bayesian methods to predict timing of influenza epidemics many weeks in advance, but there is no documented evaluation how such forecasts might support the day-to-day operations public health staff.During 2015 season Melbourne, Australia, weekly were presented at Health Department surveillance unit meetings, where they evaluated and updated light expert opinion improve their accuracy usefulness.Predictive capacity model was substantially limited by delays reporting...
To describe the epidemiological and clinical features of acute Q fever in Victoria from 1994 to 2013.Retrospective case series spatiotemporal analyses human notification data.Records for all confirmed cases notified between 2013 were reviewed. Clinical described analysis undertaken potentially acquired within Victoria.A total 659 over study period. Cases decreased at a rate 4.2% per annum (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9, 7.4%). Notification rates among abattoir workers related occupations...
To describe a 2010 outbreak of nine cases measles in Australia possibly linked to an index case who travelled on international flight from South Africa while infectious.Three Australian state health departments, Victoria, Queensland and New Wales, were responsible for the investigation management this outbreak, following public guidelines.An occurred after infectious arrived 12-hour Africa. Only one four first generation exposed en route was sitting within two rows recommended contact...
Much of our current understanding about novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) comes from hospitalised patients. However, the spectrum mild and subclinical has implications for population-level screening control. Forty-nine participants were recruited a group 99 adults repatriated cruise ship with high incidence COVID-19. Respiratory rectal swabs tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Sera anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies enzyme-linked...
In 2020, Victoria introduced multiple interventions aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We examine effect these restrictions on other vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs).We analysed mandatory reporting data, notified to Victorian Department Health, for VPDs from January 2015 December 2021.Reductions in notifications were seen most notifiable VPDs. A precipitous decline influenza and measles was recorded April which sustained both throughout 2020-2021....
ABSTRACT Public health agencies are increasingly relying on genomics during Legionnaires' disease investigations. However, the causative bacterium ( Legionella pneumophila ) has an unusual population structure, with extreme temporal and spatial genome sequence conservation. Furthermore, outbreaks can be caused by multiple L. genotypes in a single source. These factors confound cluster identification using standard phylogenomic methods. Here, we show that statistical learning approach based...
Bayesian methods have been used to predict the timing of infectious disease epidemics in various settings and for many diseases, including seasonal influenza. But integrating these techniques into public health practice remains an ongoing challenge, requires close collaboration between modellers, epidemiologists, staff. During 2016 2017 Australian influenza seasons, weekly forecasts were produced cities three states with largest populations: Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland. Forecast...
To identify barriers to control of a Victorian primary school-based measles outbreak.Confirmed cases notified in Victoria 2014 were reviewed. Surveillance data, correspondence, and investigation notes for the outbreak assessed regarding timeliness diagnosis notification, adequacy immunisation records.Twenty-three (31%) 75 school-aged (5-18 years); three had documentation vaccination, 17 unvaccinated, unknown vaccination history. Eight outbreaks identified, including with ten cases. Of six...
The mechanisms driving dynamics of many epidemiologically important mosquito-borne pathogens are complex, involving combinations vector and host factors (e.g., species composition life-history traits), associated with transmission reporting. Understanding which intrinsic contribute most to observed disease is important, yet often poorly understood. Ross River virus (RRV) Australia’s disease, variable across geographic regions. We used deterministic ordinary differential equation models test...
The 2010 Victorian influenza season was characterized by normal seasonal activity and the dominance of pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 strain. General Practice Sentinel Surveillance rates peaked at 9.4 ILI cases per 1000 consultations in week 36 for metropolitan practices, 10.5 following rural practices. Of 678 cases, 23% were vaccinated, a significantly higher percentage than previous years. A patients swabbed compared to 2003-2008, but similar 2009, with being positive as Vaccination increased...