A print friendly PDF version is available from this Communicable Diseases Intelligence issue's table of contents.

Hepatitis C

The Communicable Diseases Network Australia New Zealand (CDNANZ) has recently released two new publications on hepatitis C.

CDNANZ recently endorsed the Australian Hepatitis C Surveillance Strategy developed by the Hepatitis C Surveillance Committee of CDNANZ. This strategy builds on existing surveillance activities and proposes an implementation plan that is now under discussion between the relevant agencies.

Additional copies can be obtained from:
National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research
University of New South Wales
376 Victoria Street
DARLINGHURST NSW 2010
AUSTRALIA

The third publication in the Communicable Diseases Intelligence Technical Report Series (No. 3) is Epidemiology of the hepatitis C virus by Nick Crofts, Sandy Thompson and John Kaldor.
This report summarises the state of knowledge of the epidemiology of hepatitis C as at the end of 1998, both internationally and in Australia. It includes:

• estimates and projections developed by the Australian National Council on AIDS and Related Diseases Hepatitis C Virus Projections Working Group as part of the 1998 review of Australia's response to the hepatitis C epidemic; and
• detailed discussion on the main routes of transmission and the natural history of hepatitis C.

This report can be downloaded from the department's website.

Epidemiology of the hepatitis C virus (PDF 1331 KB)
If you are unable to download this file please email: cdi.editor@health.gov.au

A Framework for an Australian Influenza Pandemic Plan

A framework for an Australian Influenza Pandemic Plan, Version 1 June 1999, endorsed by the Communicable Diseases Network Australia New Zealand, is the fourth report in the Communicable Diseases Intelligence Technical Report Series.

The Plan provides a strategic framework for the detection and management of an influenza pandemic in Australia. The aim of the Plan is to reduce the mortality, morbidity, social disruption and economic losses associated with an influenza pandemic. The Plan provides a national framework and direction for the development of plans at the State/Territory and local level, enabling State/Territories to link their own pandemic contingency plans (either existing or future) to the national Plan.

Key elements of the Plan include recommendations for:

• surveillance for the detection of a novel strain of influenza virus;
• surveillance measures to monitor the impact of a pandemic strain including evaluation on antiviral drug resistance in the event of a pandemic;
• preventative measures to reduce the impact of the spread of a pandemic strain;
• a communication strategy for rapid dissemination of information; and
• promotion of planning for the provision of medical care and the maintenance of essential community services.

The Plan is a working document rather than a final solution. It will continue to be revised, added to, altered and refined as knowledge grows and changes.

Copies are available on the Internet website:
A framework for an Australian Influenza Pandemic Plan (PDF 791 KB)
If you are unable to download this file please email: cdi.editor@health.gov.au


This article was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 23, No 9, 2 September 1999.