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Stewart A, Schlebusch S, Vlack S, McMahon J, Sullivan M, Pyke A, Hajkowicz K. First case of mpox diagnosed in Queensland, Australia: clinical and molecular aspects. Med J Aust 2023; 218:157-159. [PMID: 36739109 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.51842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Stewart
- Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.,Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
| | - Sanmarie Schlebusch
- Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.,Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Public and Environmental Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland, Health Brisbane, QLD
| | - Susan Vlack
- Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD.,University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
| | - Jamie McMahon
- Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Public and Environmental Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland, Health Brisbane, QLD
| | - Mitchell Sullivan
- Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Public and Environmental Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland, Health Brisbane, QLD
| | - Alyssa Pyke
- Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Public and Environmental Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland, Health Brisbane, QLD
| | - Krispin Hajkowicz
- Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.,Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD
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2
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Young MK, Banu S, McCall BJ, Vlack S, Carroll H, Bennett S, Davison R, Francis D. Potential exposure to Australian bat lyssavirus is unlikely to prevent future bat handling among adults in South East Queensland. Zoonoses Public Health 2017; 65:e237-e242. [PMID: 29218847 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite ongoing public health messages about the risks associated with bat contact, the number of potential exposures to Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) due to intentional handling by members of the general public in Queensland has remained high. We sought to better understand the reasons for intentional handling among these members of the public who reported their potential exposure to inform future public health messages. We interviewed adults who resided in a defined geographic area in South East Queensland and notified potential exposure to ABLV due to intentional handling of bats by telephone between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013. The participation rate was 54%. Adults who reported they had intentionally handled bats in South East Queensland indicated high levels of knowledge and perception of a moderately high risk associated with bats with overall low intentions to handle bats in the future. However, substantial proportions of people would attempt to handle bats again in some circumstances, particularly to protect their children or pets. Fifty-two percent indicated that they would handle a bat if a child was about to pick up or touch a live bat, and 49% would intervene if a pet was interacting with a bat. Future public health communications should recognize the situations in which even people with highrisk perceptions of bats will attempt to handle them. Public health messages currently focus on avoidance of bats in all circumstances and recommend calling in a trained vaccinated handler, but messaging directed at adults for circumstances where children or pets may be potentially exposed should provide safe immediate management options.
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Affiliation(s)
- M K Young
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.,School of Medicine and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Qld, Australia
| | - S Banu
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - B J McCall
- Metro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - S Vlack
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - H Carroll
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Department of Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - S Bennett
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Department of Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - R Davison
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - D Francis
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
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Ibiebele I, Coory M, Smith GCS, Boyle FM, Vlack S, Middleton P, Roe Y, Flenady V. Gestational age specific stillbirth risk among Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in Queensland, Australia: a population based study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2016; 16:159. [PMID: 27417076 PMCID: PMC4946098 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-016-0943-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Australia, significant disparity persists in stillbirth rates between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous Australian) and non-Indigenous women. Diabetes, hypertension, antepartum haemorrhage and small-for-gestational age (SGA) have been identified as important contributors to higher rates among Indigenous women. The objective of this study was to examine gestational age specific risk of stillbirth associated with these conditions among Indigenous and non-Indigenous women. Methods Retrospective population-based study of all singleton births of at least 20 weeks gestation or at least 400 grams birthweight in Queensland between July 2005 and December 2011 using data from the Queensland Perinatal Data Collection, which is a routinely-maintained database that collects data on all births in Queensland. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95 % confidence intervals, adjusting for maternal demographic and pregnancy factors. Results Of 360987 births analysed, 20273 (5.6 %) were to Indigenous women and 340714 (94.4 %) were to non-Indigenous women. Stillbirth rates were 7.9 (95 % CI 6.8–9.2) and 4.1 (95 % CI 3.9–4.3) per 1000 births, respectively. For both Indigenous and non-Indigenous women across most gestational age groups, antepartum haemorrhage, SGA, pre-existing diabetes and pre-existing hypertension were associated with increased risk of stillbirth. There were mixed results for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and a consistently raised risk of stillbirth was not seen for gestational diabetes. Conclusion This study highlights gestational age specific stillbirth risk for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women; and disparity in risk at term gestations. Improving access to and utilisation of appropriate and responsive healthcare may help to address disparities in stillbirth risk for Indigenous women. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0943-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibinabo Ibiebele
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland (MRI-UQ), Level 2 Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101, Australia. .,School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Michael Coory
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gordon C S Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Frances M Boyle
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland (MRI-UQ), Level 2 Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101, Australia.,School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Susan Vlack
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Queensland Health Metro North Brisbane Public Health Unit, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Philippa Middleton
- South Australian Health and Medical Institute & Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Yvette Roe
- Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Vicki Flenady
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland (MRI-UQ), Level 2 Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101, Australia.,School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Ibiebele I, Coory M, Boyle FM, Humphrey M, Vlack S, Flenady V. Stillbirth rates among Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in Queensland, Australia: is the gap closing? BJOG 2014; 122:1476-83. [DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.13047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I Ibiebele
- Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) Centre; Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld Australia
- School of Population Health; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - M Coory
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; Melbourne Vic. Australia
- Department of Paediatrics; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - FM Boyle
- School of Population Health; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld Australia
- Australia and New Zealand Stillbirth Alliance; Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - M Humphrey
- Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council; Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - S Vlack
- School of Population Health; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld Australia
- Queensland Health Metro North Brisbane Public Health Unit; Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - V Flenady
- Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) Centre; Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld Australia
- Australia and New Zealand Stillbirth Alliance; Brisbane Qld Australia
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Vlack S, Foster R, Menzies R, Williams G, Shannon C, Riley I. Immunisation coverage of Queensland Indigenous two-year-old children by cluster sampling and by register. Aust N Z J Public Health 2007; 31:67-72. [PMID: 17333612 DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00013.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To obtain, through a survey, estimates of immunisation coverage in a birth cohort of Indigenous children, and to compare survey estimates with those obtained from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) for the same birth cohort of Indigenous children. METHODS Cluster sampling of a birth cohort of two-year-old Indigenous children across Queensland, stratified according to accessibility/remoteness from services, was undertaken in 2003. An innovative method of identifying participants was used. Survey results of 10 vaccine doses were compared with ACIR data. RESULTS The survey obtained a 4% sample of the birth cohort (137 children). Universally recommended vaccines showed high levels of coverage at 12 and 24 months, and survey estimates were slightly higher than ACIR estimates. Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine dose 3 (DTPa3) coverage was 93.8% (95% CI 88.0-99.6) by 12 months on survey and 87.5% on ACIR. Coverage was not timely and a lag phase of 4-6 months occurred for each vaccine dose. Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine dose 2 (Hib2), scheduled for the age of four months, reached 90% coverage by nine months of age in the survey children. CONCLUSION Both methods reported here provided similar results. IMPLICATIONS These data indicate that ACIR Indigenous reporting rates have increased and coverage estimates are comparable to those provided by a survey. Immunisation coverage appears to be high, and the main remaining challenge in further reducing vaccine-preventable disease in Indigenous children is to improve immunisation timeliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Vlack
- School of Population Health, University of Queensland.
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Vlack S, Foster R, Menzies R, Williams G, Shannon C, Riley I. Immunisation coverage of Queensland Indigenous two-year-old children by cluster sampling and by register. Aust N Z J Public Health 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-842x.2007.tb00892.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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Vlack S, Cox L, Peleg AY, Canuto C, Stewart C, Conlon A, Stephens A, Giffard P, Huygens F, Mollinger A, Vohra R, McCarthy JS. Carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Queensland Indigenous community. Med J Aust 2006; 184:556-9. [PMID: 16768661 DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00379.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2005] [Accepted: 04/10/2006] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) carriage and infection among children living in an Indigenous community in Queensland. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Swabs for culture of S. aureus were collected from the nose, throat and skin wounds of primary school children. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES MRSA carriage, antibiotic sensitivity, genotype, and presence of the virulence factor Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL); and epidemiological risk factors for MRSA carriage. RESULTS 92 (59%) of 157 eligible children were included in the study. Twenty-seven (29%) carried S. aureus; 14 of these (15% of total) carried MRSA. MRSA was isolated from 29% of wound swabs, 8% of nose swabs, and 1% of throat swabs. Fourteen of 15 MRSA isolates were sensitive to all non-beta-lactam antibiotics tested. Eight children (9%) carried CA-MRSA clonal types: six carried the Queensland clone (ST93), and two carried the South West Pacific clone (ST30). All these isolates carried the virulence factor PVL. The remaining six children carried a hospital-associated MRSA strain (ST5), negative for PVL. CONCLUSIONS We have identified a high prevalence of CA-MRSA carriage in school children from a Queensland Indigenous community. In this setting, antibiotics with activity against CA-MRSA should be considered for empiric therapy of suspected staphylococcal infection. Larger community-based studies are needed to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of CA-MRSA, and to assist in the development of therapeutic guidelines for this important infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Vlack
- School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
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Abbott R, Haswell-Elkins M, Jenkins D, Fell K, Vlack S, Macdonald D. 217 Prevalence of obesity and its relation to perceived activity levels in young Indigenous Australian children. J Sci Med Sport 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/s1440-2440(17)30713-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abbott R, Macdonald D, Haswell-Elkins M, Jenkins D, Fell K, Vlack S. 314 Barriers to physical activity in young Indigenous Australian children. J Sci Med Sport 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/s1440-2440(17)30811-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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McDermott R, Hunter E, Fagan P, Vlack S. The social and educational outcome of a cohort of rural children in relation to the racial and socioeconomic groupings of their parents. J Paediatr Child Health 1997; 33:175-6. [PMID: 9145368 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1997.tb01027.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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