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Lu C, Wang L, Barr I, Lambert S, Mengersen K, Yang W, Li Z, Si X, McClymont H, Haque S, Gan T, Vardoulakis S, Bambrick H, Hu W. Developing a Research Network of Early Warning Systems for Infectious Diseases Transmission Between China and Australia. China CDC Wkly 2024; 6:740-753. [PMID: 39114314 PMCID: PMC11301605 DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2024.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
This article offers a thorough review of current early warning systems (EWS) and advocates for establishing a unified research network for EWS in infectious diseases between China and Australia. We propose that future research should focus on improving infectious disease surveillance by integrating data from both countries to enhance predictive models and intervention strategies. The article highlights the need for standardized data formats and terminologies, improved surveillance capabilities, and the development of robust spatiotemporal predictive models. It concludes by examining the potential benefits and challenges of this collaborative approach and its implications for global infectious disease surveillance. This is particularly relevant to the ongoing project, early warning systems for Infectious Diseases between China and Australia (NetEWAC), which aims to use seasonal influenza as a case study to analyze influenza trends, peak activities, and potential inter-hemispheric transmission patterns. The project seeks to integrate data from both hemispheres to improve outbreak predictions and develop a spatiotemporal predictive modeling system for seasonal influenza transmission based on socio-environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Lu
- Ecosystem Change and Population Health Research Group, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Liping Wang
- Division of Infectious Disease, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forcasting for Infectious Diseases, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Ian Barr
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, VIDRL, Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephen Lambert
- Communicable Disease Branch, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Kerrie Mengersen
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Weizhong Yang
- School of Population Medicine & Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Science/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongjie Li
- School of Population Medicine & Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Science/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohan Si
- Ecosystem Change and Population Health Research Group, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Hannah McClymont
- Ecosystem Change and Population Health Research Group, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Shovanur Haque
- Ecosystem Change and Population Health Research Group, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ting Gan
- Ecosystem Change and Population Health Research Group, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- HEAL Global Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Hilary Bambrick
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Wenbiao Hu
- Ecosystem Change and Population Health Research Group, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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Riley T, Lovett R, Cumming B, Meredith A, Anderson NE, Thandrayen J. Data analysis of zoonoses notifications in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in Australia 1996-2021: implications for One Health. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1175835. [PMID: 37900024 PMCID: PMC10602743 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1175835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Zoonoses are a health concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia that face elevated risk of disease related to the environment and animals. Internationally, One Health is encouraged to effectively manage zoonoses by taking integrated approaches involving animal, human, and environmental health sectors to improve health outcomes. However, Australia's health systems manage zoonotic diseases in animals and people separately which does not support a One Health approach. For the effective management of zoonoses, a strong evidence base and database regarding the epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens is needed. However, we currently lack this evidence limiting our understanding of the impact of zoonoses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. Methods As a first step towards building the evidence base, we undertook a descriptive analysis of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander zoonotic notifications in Australia from 1996 to 2021. We presented notifications as annual notification rates per 100,000 population, and percentages of notifications by state, remoteness, sex, and age group. Results Salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis were the most notified zoonoses with the highest annual notification rates of 99.75 and 87.46 per 100,000 population, respectively. The north of Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia), remote and outer regional areas, and young children (0-4 years of age) had the highest percentages of notifications. Discussion To our knowledge, these findings are the first national presentation of the epidemiology of zoonoses within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. A greater understanding of transmission, prevalence and impact of zoonoses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (including animal and environmental health factors) is required to inform their effective management through a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Riley
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Raymond Lovett
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Bonny Cumming
- Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC), Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Anna Meredith
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom
| | - Neil E. Anderson
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Thandrayen
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Rowe SL, Leder K, Sundaresan L, Wollersheim D, Lawrie J, Stephens N, Cowie BC, Nolan TM, Cheng AC. Excess mortality among people with communicable diseases over a 30-year period, Victoria, Australia: a whole of population cohort study. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2023; 38:100815. [PMID: 37790083 PMCID: PMC10544289 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Understanding mortality burden associated with communicable diseases is key to informing resource allocation, disease prevention and control efforts, and evaluating public health interventions. We quantified excess mortality among people notified with communicable diseases in Victoria, Australia. Methods Cases of communicable disease notified in Victoria between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 2021 were linked to the death registry. Informational gain obtained through linkage and 30-day case fatality rates were calculated for each disease. Standardised mortality ratios (SMR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated up to a year following illness onset. Findings There were 1,032,619 cases and 5985 (0.58%) died ≤30 days of illness onset. Following linkage, the 30-day case fatality rate increased more than 2-fold. Diseases with high 7-day SMR signifying excess mortality included invasive pneumococcal disease (167.7, 95% CI 153.4-182.7); listeriosis (166.2, 95% CI 121.2-218.3); invasive meningococcal disease (145.9, 95% CI 116.7-178.3); legionellosis (43.3, 95% CI 28.0-62.0); and COVID-19 (21.9, 95% CI 19.7-24.3). Most diseases exhibited a strong negative gradient, with high SMRs in the first 7-days of illness onset that reduced over time. Interpretation We demonstrated that the rate of death in Victoria's notifiable disease surveillance dataset is underestimated. Further, compared to a general population, there is evidence of elevated all-cause mortality among people notified with communicable diseases often up to one year following illness onset. Not all elevated risk is likely directly attributable to the communicable diseases of interest, rather, it may reflect underlying comorbidities or behaviours in these individuals. Regardless of attribution, infection with communicable diseases may represent a marker of mortality. Key to preventing deaths may be through timely and appropriate transition to primary and preventive healthcare following diagnosis. Funding No funding was provided for this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey L. Rowe
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- University of San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Karin Leder
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Jock Lawrie
- Department of Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Benjamin C. Cowie
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Terry M. Nolan
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Vaccine and Immunisation Research Group (VIRGo), Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Allen C. Cheng
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Monash Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Dyda A, Fahim M, Fraser J, Kirrane M, Wong I, McNeil K, Ruge M, Lau CL, Sullivan C. Managing the Digital Disruption Associated with COVID-19-Driven Rapid Digital Transformation in Brisbane, Australia. Appl Clin Inform 2021; 12:1135-1143. [PMID: 34852391 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1740190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has forced rapid digital transformation of many health systems. These innovations are now entering the literature, but there is little focus on the resulting disruption. OBJECTIVE We describe the implementation of digital innovations during the COVID-19 response of Australia's largest health service, Metro North (in Brisbane, Queensland), the challenges of the subsequent digital disruption, how these were managed, and lessons learned. METHODS Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian state of Queensland created the Queensland Digital Clinical Charter, which provides guidance for the development of digital health programs. The guidelines utilize three horizons: digitizing workflows, leveraging digital data to transform clinical care, and reimagining new and innovative models of care. The technical response to COVID-19 in Metro North is described across these horizons. The rapid digital response caused significant disruption to health care delivery; management of the disruption and the outcomes are detailed. This is a participatory action research project, with members of the research team assisting with leading the implementation project informing the case report content. RESULTS Several digital innovations were introduced across Metro North during the COVID-19 response. This resulted in significant disruption creating digital hypervigilance, digital deceleration, data discordance, and postdigital "depression." Successful management of the digital disruption minimized the negative effects of rapid digital transformation, and contributed to the effective management of the pandemic in Queensland. CONCLUSION The rapid digital transformation in Metro North during COVID-19 was successful in several aspects; however, ongoing challenges remain. These include the need to improve data sharing and increase interoperability. Importantly, the innovations need to be evaluated to ensure that Metro North can capitalize on these changes and incorporate them into long-term routine practice. Moving forward, it will be essential to manage not only the pandemic, but increasingly, the resultant digital disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalie Dyda
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Magid Fahim
- Metro South and Integrated Nephrology and Transplant Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.,Centre for Health Services Research, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jon Fraser
- Digital Metro North, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Marianne Kirrane
- Digital Metro North, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ides Wong
- Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Keith McNeil
- Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Maree Ruge
- Centre for Health Services Research, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.,Digital Metro North, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Queensland, Australia
| | - Colleen L Lau
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.,Research School of Population Health, ANU College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Clair Sullivan
- Centre for Health Services Research, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.,Digital Metro North, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia
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Rowe SL, Stephens N, Cowie BC, Nolan T, Leder K, Cheng AC. Use of data linkage to improve communicable disease surveillance and control in Australia: existing practices, barriers and enablers. Aust N Z J Public Health 2018; 43:33-40. [PMID: 30516306 DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Revised: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To review the use of data linkage by Australian state and territory communicable disease control units, and to identify barriers to and enablers of data linkage to inform communicable disease surveillance and control activities. METHODS Semi-structured telephone interviews were carried out with one key informant from communicable disease control units in all eight Australian states and territories between October 2017 and January 2018. RESULTS Key informants from all Australian states and territories participated in the interview. A variety of existing practices were identified, with few jurisdictions making systematic use of available data linkage infrastructure. Key barriers identified from the review included: a lack of perceived need; system factors; and resources. Existing regulatory tools enable data linkage to enhance communicable disease surveillance and control. CONCLUSIONS We identified considerable variation in the use of data linkage to inform communicable disease surveillance and control activities between jurisdictions. We suggest that routinely collected, disparate data are systematically integrated into existing surveillance and response policy cycle to improve communicable disease prevention and control efforts. Implications for public health: Existing gaps in communicable disease surveillance data may affect prevention and control efforts. Data linkage is recognised as a valuable method to close surveillance gaps and should be used to enhance the value of publicly held health data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey L Rowe
- Department of Health and Human Services, Health Protection Branch, Victoria.,School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria
| | - Nicola Stephens
- Department of Health and Human Services, Health Protection Branch, Victoria
| | - Benjamin C Cowie
- Department of Health and Human Services, Health Protection Branch, Victoria.,Doherty Institute for Immunity and Infection, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Victoria
| | - Terry Nolan
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Karin Leder
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria
| | - Allen C Cheng
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria
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Effectiveness of parental cocooning as a vaccination strategy to prevent pertussis infection in infants: A case-control study. Vaccine 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.02.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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