Suchergebnisse

Since 2003, the Australian government has funded a conjugate serogroup C meningococcal vaccine for those aged over 1 year and born since 1 January 1984. This summary of the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Queensland assesses the effect that the vaccination program has had on IMD notifications. In Queensland, IMD cases are notified to the Notifiable Conditions System by clinicians and laboratories. Additional surveillance data are collected by population health units from relatives of the case, the case and medical practitioners. In 2005, Queensland recorded its lowest number of cases and lowest incidence of IMD since statewide surveillance began. This remained low in 2006. The serogroup C rate in Queensland also declined to its lowest in 2006. The pattern of age specific incidence remains similar, though rates are lower in all but those aged less than 12 months. However, Indigenous rates are still twice non-Indigenous rates. The case fatality rate for IMD (all serogroups) has declined, possibly due to the reduced incidence of serogroup C and septicaemia cases. The program appears to have mostly achieved its aims of: reducing illness and death in the population at highest risk; inducing immunity in those who are vaccinated; and reducing the incidence of disease. However, there is considerable natural fluctuation in the rates of IMD and continued surveillance will be needed to monitor trends.

Since 2003, the Australian government has funded a conjugate serogroup C meningococcal vaccine for those aged over 1 year and born since 1 January 1984. This summary of the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Queensland assesses the effect that the vaccination program has had on IMD notifications. In Queensland, IMD cases are notified to the Notifiable Conditions System by clinicians and laboratories. Additional surveillance data are collected by population health units from relatives of the case, the case and medical practitioners. In 2005, Queensland recorded its lowest number of cases and lowest incidence of IMD since statewide surveillance began. This remained low in 2006. The serogroup C rate in Queensland also declined to its lowest in 2006. The pattern of age specific incidence remains similar, though rates are lower in all but those aged less than 12 months. However, Indigenous rates are still twice non-Indigenous rates. The case fatality rate for IMD (all serogroups) has declined, possibly due to the reduced incidence of serogroup C and septicaemia cases. The program appears to have mostly achieved its aims of: reducing illness and death in the population at highest risk; inducing immunity in those who are vaccinated; and reducing the incidence of disease. However, there is considerable natural fluctuation in the rates of IMD and continued surveillance will be needed to monitor trends.

Abstract

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.