Virus WAtch Week Ending 26 April 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Indicators of influenza activity remain relatively steady, at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) were steady but presentations and admissions to sentinel Emergency Departments (EDs) increased this week. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B continue to co-circulate. Respiratory syncytial virus activity appears to be increasing. Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 19 April 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Some indicators of influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity showed signs of increasing activity this week. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and admissions to sentinel Emergency Departments (EDs) increased this week. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B constituting the majority of subtyped viruses. Non-influenza respiratory virus detections increased marginally this week. Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 12 April 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) and general practitioners (GPs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 continues to co-circulate. Non-influenza respiratory virus detections declined this week. Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel GPs increased this week […]

VirusWAtch 5 April 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) and general practitioners (GPs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B continue to co-circulate. Non-influenza respiratory virus detections continue to fluctuate at low levels. Gastroenteritis Presentations to sentinel GPs and EDs are consistent […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 29 March 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) and general practitioners (GPs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B continue to co-circulate. Non-influenza respiratory virus detections continue to fluctuate at low levels. Gastroenteritis Presentations to sentinel GPs and […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 22 March 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) and general practitioners (GPs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses. Non-influenza respiratory virus detections decreased this week. Gastroenteritis Presentations to sentinel GPs and EDs are consistent with this time period during previous years. Norovirus […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 15 March 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) and general practitioners (GPs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses. Non-influenza respiratory virus detections continue to fluctuate at low levels. Gastroenteritis Presentations to sentinel GPs and EDs are consistent with this time period during […]

Following CRE outbreaks in duodenoscopes in the USA, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have posted the following safety advisory on their website: 16/03/15 – TGA Safety Advisory – Potential issues with devices transmitting infections between patients https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/duodenoscopes-used-endoscopic-retrograde-cholangiopancreatography

Virus WAtch Week Ending 8 March 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) have increased over the past fortnight, but remain low overall. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B continue to co-circulate. There were modest […]

The Commission has collaborated with the Australian Dental Association and dental practitioners across the country to develop the draft NSQHS Standards Guide for Dental Practices and Services. The guide aims to assist dental practices and services to use the NSQHS Standards as a framework to improve the safety and quality of care. It provides information on preparing for accreditation, practical strategies to implement the Standards, and clinical scenarios highlighting how the Standards can be applied in dental settings. Whether receiving […]