Summary Iran, Italy and South Korea have been added to the list of countries for which clinicians should consider testing of people with a clinically compatible illness and history of travel. On 26 February 2020 the Commonwealth updated advice on testing of persons under investigation for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It …
Novel coronavirus – latest PHN updates
Last updated: 4 February 2020 Novel coronavirus There has been an outbreak of a novel (new) coronavirus (2019-nCoV) originating in Wuhan, China. Queensland Health asks you consider novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection in patients with fever and respiratory symptoms who recently travelled to anywhere in China, and investigate patients using standard …
Novel coronavirus: face masks and additional resources
The Health Minister has indicated that the Department of Health is making the national stockpile of face masks available to general practices as needed. We do not yet have exact details about when they will be available, but we will advise you as soon as delivery dates are confirmed. Priority …
Public health alert – novel coronavirus
Summary Consider novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection in patients with fever and respiratory symptoms who recently travelled to anywhere in China. There is not enough information yet to determine the incubation period, the rate of infection or the source of the virus. For severe respiratory illness, transfer patients to Emergency Departments …
Information for general practitioners – textured breast implants
Queensland Health has started notifying all women identified as having received textured breast implants or tissue expanders associated with increased risk of Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL.) Please note GPs will be contacted if they have patients who are affected. Read the Queensland Health notice here. …
Novel coronavirus information sheet for primary and community health workers
Summary There has been an outbreak of a novel (new) coronavirus (2019-nCoV) originating in Wuhan, China. There is some evidence of human-to-human transmission and some hospital workers have been infected. There is not enough information yet to determine the incubation period, the rate of infection or the source of the …
Public health alert – pneumonia cluster
Summary There is a cluster of cases of viral pneumonia in Wuhan, China. The cause is being reported as a novel coronavirus. The cluster is centered at the Wuhan South China Seafood City Market (also called the South China Seafood Wholesale Market and the Hua Nan Seafood Market). Travelers to …
Public health alert – measles in Sunshine Coast area
Sunshine Coast Public Health Unit has been notified of a confirmed case of measles in a Sunshine Coast resident. The infection was acquired in New Zealand where there is a current measles outbreak. It is likely that further cases of measles will occur on the Sunshine Coast during the next …
Public health notice – listeria
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria which causes Listeriosis, has been detected in a batch of commercial sliced ham served to patients and families in the Queensland Children’s Hospital between 10 and 20 May 2019. Listeria is a common bacteria found widely in the environment (soil, water, vegetation) and rarely causes serious …
Health alert – dengue fever
Locally acquired case of Dengue in Central Queensland As of 24 May 2019 Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service has confirmed Dengue in a Rockhampton resident who has not travelled overseas, nor to Far North Queensland. Central Queensland Public Health Unit (CQPHU) is investigating this case and the place of …
Public health alert: syphilis outbreak in Central Queensland
Outbreak of infectious syphilis in Central Queensland Attn: All clinicians in Central Queensland There has been an increase in cases of infectious syphilis in Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service area where it’s considered to be an outbreak. The recent syphilis cases in the region appears to be mainly in …
Product recall: Weleda Baby Teething Powder 60g
Consumers and health professionals are advised that Weleda Australia Pty Ltd, in consultation with the TGA, is recalling batches of Weleda Baby Teething Powder 60g. The recall is being conducted because small, threadlike (up to approximately 1 cm long and less than 1 mm wide), soft, slivers of white plastic …
Updated: Cases of infectious syphilis in Central Highlands
The outbreak of syphilis in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people continues in North Queensland. There have also been increased syphilis notifications in men who have sex with men, notably in the Cairns and Hinterland HHS area. Recently there have been several cases of infectious syphilis diagnosed within Rockhampton …
Clinical advice for the 2018 Polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea
In June 2018, the Government of Papua New Guinea notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus. The Government of Papua New Guinea is working with partners, including WHO and UNICEF, to take appropriate outbreak response measures including contact tracing, testing and vaccination. Polio is …
Mumps outbreak in the Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast areas
Several confirmed cases and a small number of likely but unconfirmed cases of mumps have been identified in students in the boarding school at St Brendan’s college. The purpose of this communique is to provide you with some information about the steps being taken to minimise further spread in the …
Public Health Advisory to GPs in Wide Bay Food recall – potential Listeria contamination
There is a current trade recall of frozen vegetables due to concerns about possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall is a precautionary measure following an investigation in Europe of an outbreak of a specific strain of L. monocytogenes with 47 cases across 5 EU countries. The outbreak, dating back …
Public health alert – Measles in Sunshine Coast area
Sunshine Coast Public Health Unit has been notified of a confirmed case of measles in a Sunshine Coast resident. The infection was acquired overseas. There is a low risk of further cases of measles. When a patient with measles attends a medical facility, other patients, visitors and staff are at …