Field testing Australian bat lyssavirus risk communication resources.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a fatal zoonosis, which can be transmitted to humans through scratches or bites from infected bats. Currently, there is a lack of research evaluating risk communication resources about ABLV or the dangers from handling bats. The purpose of this study was to field test resources aimed at educating the public about risks to humans and bats from human-bat interaction, then update these resources based upon feedback to ensure they were relevant and appropriately targeted to the public. METHODS: Thirteen semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of participants chosen for maximum variation of age and sex were conducted. Two investigators analysed the data independently using a deductive approach and then came to consensus by discussion. RESULTS: The main themes were a wide-ranging level of knowledge and opinions about bats, the resources having an effect on people, and messaging in relation to children and pets being particularly important. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the complexities of risk communication to a broad audience with varied experience and knowledge about bats, and the importance of evaluation prior to implementation to ensure risk communication is relevant and appealing to the intended audience. SO WHAT?: Field testing of health education material prior to implementation is an effective way to ensure key messages are understood, and is important when communicating about fatal but preventable zoonoses such as ABLV.

Q fever infection is a preventable risk associated with pet food manufacturing.

OBJECTIVE: This paper highlights the occupational risk of Q fever from exposure to raw animal products in the context of multiple notified Q fever cases from 2020 to 2023 linked to four pet food manufacturing facilities in South-East Queensland, Australia. METHODS: The Queensland Government Notifiable Conditions System was used to identify Q fever cases linked to pet food manufacturing in the Metro North and Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service areas of Brisbane, Australia. Data on each case from routine public health follow-up were collected and descriptively analysed. RESULTS: Between 2020 and 2023, 12 confirmed Q fever infections (17% of total cases) were linked to four pet food manufacturing facilities. Eleven cases reported direct or environmental exposure to raw meat and animal products. None were previously vaccinated for Q fever. CONCLUSION: These cases demonstrate the increased risk of Q fever infection as part of the pet food manufacturing process, highlighting an underappreciated preventable occupational risk, which can be mitigated with the use of pre-screening and vaccination of workers. All occupations should conduct workplace-based risk assessments to identify risks such as Q fever to prevent adverse negative health outcomes.

Several confirmed and probable zoonotic cases of toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans, Queensland, Australia.

Background: Toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans is an emerging zoonosis globally, causing both cutaneous and respiratory diphtheria-like illness. In Queensland, human infection with toxigenic C. ulcerans is rare, with only three cases reported before October 2015. This case series describes five subsequent cases of toxigenic C. ulcerans in Queensland with links to companion animals. Methods: All data were collected as part of routine public health response, and strains were whole genome sequenced for further characterisation. Household contacts were screened, treated with appropriate antibiotics, and received a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine if more than five years had elapsed since their last dose. Findings: No epidemiological or genomic links could be established between any of the five patients, including between the two cases notified from the same locality within eight days of each other. The C. ulcerans strains from Cases Two, Four and Five were closely related to the strains isolated from their respective pets by whole genome sequencing. Domestic dogs were identified as the most likely mode of transmission for Cases One and Three; however, this was unable to be laboratory confirmed, since Case One's dog was treated with antibiotics before it could be tested, and Case Three's dog was euthanised and cremated prior to case notification. Interpretation: These are the first reported Australian cases of this emerging zoonosis with links to companion animals. These cases demonstrate the likely transmission route between companion animals and humans, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission. The existing requirement in the Queensland Health Public Health Management Guidelines, of restrictions on cases and some contacts while awaiting swab results, is currently under review.

Your Call Is Important to Us: COVID-19 and Trends in Public Health Unit Call Service Utilization.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) -related call data at Metro North Public Health Unit, Brisbane Australia, over the 2020 calendar year to assist surge preparedness. METHODS: Call data were retrieved by call category or reference to "COVID" in summaries from the call management system at a large metropolitan public health service. Under a mixed-methods approach, qualitative data (caller, call purpose, and call outcome) were categorized with categories arising de novo. Resulting variables were numerically analyzed to identify trends by categories and time. RESULTS: Of the 3468 calls retrieved, 160 duplicates and 26 irrelevant calls were excluded. Of 3282 included calls, general practitioners, followed by the public, contributed the greatest call volumes. Health-care-related callers and the public made 84.2% of calls. Calls most frequently related to patient testing (40.7%) and isolation/quarantine (23.2%). Education provision accounted for 29.4% of all outcomes. A total of 11.8% of all call outcomes involved applying relevant case definitions, and 49.1% of calls were identified as potentially preventable through effective emergency risk communication and targeted call-handling. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified key drivers of public health unit phone service use related to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2020. The results highlighted where risk perception influenced call volume and provided important insights for future public health preparedness.

Modified measles with an atypical presentation

We report symptomatic confirmed modified measles infection in a person with one documented MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination and travel to Indonesia. No secondary cases were identified, consistent with other case reports of modified measles infection. The infectivity of modified measles for contact tracing requirements requires further elucidation.