Virus WAtch Week Ending 6 July 2014 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza activity continues to increase this week, indicating the influenza season has commenced. All indicators of influenza activity, including ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs), influenza notifications, laboratory detections and hospitalisations associated with influenza increased this week. The majority of influenza viruses subtyped in the past week were influenza A/H1N1, but influenza B and influenza A/H3 are also circulating. Detections of respiratory […]

As of 2 July 2014, 826 laboratory-confirmed cases had been reported by the WHO world-wide since the first cases were reported in September 2012.  Two hundred and eighty-seven are known to have died, and the case fatality rate is 35% . All cases have a history of residence in or travel to the Middle East, or contact with travelers returning from these areas.  More than 85% of cases acquired the infection in Saudi Arabia, or are related to contact with travelers returning from these […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza activity is increasing; non-influenza respiratory virus activity continues to increase. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) and influenza notifications increased; however, hospitalisations remain low. The majority of influenza viruses subtyped in the past week were influenza A/H1N1, but influenza B and influenza A/H3 are also circulating. Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses increased this week, and respiratory syncytial virus activity remains high.  Gastroenteritis  Gastroenteritis presentations […]

MERS-CoV has officially become a notifiable infectious disease in WA, as of today, following publication of a notice in the Government Gazette yesterday, MERS-CoV-notifiable (gazettal-HE402) 1July 2014 An accompanying notice (HE401) also designated MERS-CoV to be  a “dangerous infectious disease”, as defined in the Health Act 1911. The latter designation allows the use of formal powers, as outlined in section 251 of the Act, to order public health disease control measures such as isolation, quarantine, and testing, should this be necessary. […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 22 June 2014 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Non-influenza respiratory virus activity continues to increase; there are early indications of an increase in influenza activity.  ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) increased, but influenza notifications and hospitalisations remain low. The majority of influenza viruses subtyped in the past week were influenza A/H1N1, but influenza B and influenza A/H3 are also circulating. Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses increased this week, and respiratory […]

Virus WAtch 15 June 2014 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Non-influenza virus activity, including respiratory syncytial virus, decreased this week, and influenza activity remains low. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) increased but influenza notifications remain low ILI presentations to emergency departments (EDs) decreased this week; hospital admissions for influenza remain low. The majority of influenza viruses subtyped in the past week were influenza A/H1N1, but influenza B and influenza A/H3 are also circulating. Detections of non-influenza respiratory […]

The purpose of this circular is to clarify regulations with regards to re-use of Single Use Devices (SUDs). In keeping with Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulations, SUDs should not be re-used in any WA public health system facility. You can view this and other Department of Health circulars at www.health.wa.gov.au/circularsnew.

The Infection Prevention & Control e-Learning Orientation Program for Healthcare Workers produced by the Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Healthcare is now available. Visit  http://education.safetyandquality.gov.au/login.php to access the login page, alternatively the link can be found on the Commission’s HAI page under Clinician Capacity.

Virus WAtch Week Ending 8 June 2014 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Non-influenza virus activity increased this week, particularly respiratory syncytial virus, but influenza activity remains low. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and influenza notifications remain low. ILI presentations to emergency departments (EDs) increased this week; hospital admissions for influenza remain low. The majority of influenza viruses subtyped in the past week were influenza A/H1N1, but influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B viruses are also circulating. Detections of […]

The Operational Directive Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance in Western Australian Healthcare Facilities has undergone revision and is now available on the website at http://www.health.wa.gov.au/circularsnew/circular.cfm?Circ_ID=13106