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Research Papers
Williams C. Spa Baths in Motel Accomodation and Pseudomonas Risk Environmental Health 2008; 8(2): 22-27
Pending
Main K, Ansell N, Durrheim DN, Herlihy C, Porigneaux P, Tange K, Williams C Environmental Health Emergency Response to a Natural Storm Disaster in NSW, Australia Environmental Health Journal 8(1): 44-50
In June 2007, severe storms and flash flooding resulted in a natural disaster in the Hunter Valley region of NSW, Australia. We describe the magnitude of this disaster, the resultant public health threats and the environmental health response. The disaster highlights the unique contribution that the environmental health profession can make at the forefront of the response and recovery phases of a natural disaster.
http://journal.eh.org.au/archive.php
Dalton C, Cretikos M, DN Durrheim A food "lifeboat": food and nutrition considerations in the event of a pandemic or other catastrophe Medical Journal of Australia 188(11): 679
Rather than providing nutritional guides as to what foods should be stockpiled for household disaster preparedness, it is more useful to encourage families to increase the amount and rotation of the non-perishables they currently purchase.
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/188_11_020608/letters_020608_fm-5.html
Cretikos MA, Merritt TD, Main K, Eastwood K, Winn L, Moran L, Durrheim DN. Mitigating the health impacts of a natural disaster- the June 2007 long-weekend storm in the Hunter region of New South Wales Medical Journal of Australia 2007; 187(11-12): 670-673.
A severe storm affecting Newcastle and the Hunter Valley during June 2007 caused widespread flooding and damage to houses, businesses, schools and health care facilities, and damaged critical infrastructure, resulting in a natural disaster being declared in 19 local government areas. Interruption of the electricity supply to over 200 000 homes and businesses, interruption of water and gas supplies, and sewerage system pump failures presented substantial public health threats. The activities conducted by the public health emergency operations centre coordinating surveillance activities, responding to acute public health issues and preventing disease outbreaks are presented.
Massey P, Durrheim DN, Speare R. Inadequate chemoprophylaxis and the risk of malaria Australian Family Physician 2007; 36(12): 1058-1060.
BACKGROUND Malaria is an important disease for Australian travellers, particularly to Papua New Guinea. Chemoprophylaxis along with mosquito-bite prevention strategies are effective in preventing malaria in travellers. During 2007, six people were diagnosed with malaria from a group of 38 who had travelled to Papua New Guinea. This cluster of cases prompted a public health investigation. METHOD A retrospective cohort investigation into malaria risk in a group of adult Australians that trekked the Kokoda trail in Papua New Guinea was undertaken. RESULTS All of the group members were contacted and agreed to be a part of the investigation. Of the 12 individuals who took chemoprophylaxis for the recommended period post-travel none developed malaria compared to 4/24 travellers who terminated prophylaxis prematurely, and 2/2 developed malaria who had taken no chemoprophylaxis for the trip. DISCUSSION Chemoprophylaxis is effective if taken for the full recommended period following travel to a malaria endemic area. The recommendations for the post-travel period are: 4 weeks for doxycycline and mefloquine, and 7 days for atovaquone+proguanil.
http://www.afp.racgp.org.au/afp/200712/21099
Durrheim D. A clarion call for greater investment in global sanitation The Lancet 2007; 370(9599): 1592-1593.
Thousands of people worldwide continue to die from cholera and other infections spread through faecally contaminated drinking water supplies. This reflects intolerable inequity at a global level. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aim to halve the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015. Work from rural Brazil provides evidence for the impact of sanitation schemes on reducing the impact of diarrhoea in childhood. Rigorous science is a valuable method for persuasive advocacy.
Monaghan K, Durrheim D, Arzey G, Branley J. Human Psittacosis Associated with Purchasing Birds from, or Visiting, a Pet Store in Newcastle, Australia. Environmental Health 2007; 7(2): 52-61.
Over an 18 month period five confirmed and one probable notified human psittacosis cases were linked to exposure to caged birds from the same pet store. A public health investigation identified a number of high risk practices at the implicated pet shop. T
http://journal.aieh.org.au/index.php
Wynd S, Durrheim D, Carron J, Selve B, Chaine JP, Leggat P, Melrose W Socio-cultural insights and lymphatic filariasis control - lessons from the Pacific Filaria Journal 2007; 6(3): 1-4.
The increasing interest in socio-cultural LF research presents a unique opportunity for coupling socio-cultural and bio-medical understandings of LF. To address the backlog in the socio-cultural sphere it will require the investment of time and effort to
http://www.filariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2883-6-3.pdf
Eastwood K, Massey P, Durrheim D Pandemic planning at the coal face: responsibilities of the Public Health Unit NSW Public Health Bulletin 2006: 17(7-8): 117-120.
Responding to an infectious disease pandemic requires a coordinated approach from all the essential services. Public health units across NSW will plan an important role in a range of control activities. These include: surveillance, education, communicati
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/phb/phb.html
Unicomb L, Ferguson J, Stafford R, Ashbolt R, Kirk M, Becker N, Patel M, Gilbert G, Valcanis M, Mickan L Low-Level Fluoroquinolone Resistance among Campylobacter jejuni Isolates in Australia Clinical Infectious Diseases 2006; 42:1368-1374.
Ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter jejuni isolates obtain from the infected patients in Australia have not been detected in studies of isolates from specific geographic areas. The Australian government prohibited the use of fluoroquinolone in food-pro
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v42n10/38489/38489.web.pdf
Speare R, Latasi F, Nelesone T, Harmen S, Melrose W, Durrheim D, Heukelbach J Prevalence of soil transmitted nematodes on Nukufetau, a remote Pacific Island in Tuvalu BMC Infectious Diseases 2006; 6:110-110.
Nukufetau is a remote coral atoll island in the nation of Tuvalu in the Western Pacific. Annual mass drug administration with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole occurred in 2001, 2002 and 2003 for lymphatic filariasis elimination. A cross-sectional surve
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/6/110
Kypri K, Donaldson A, Johnstone E The Physical Inactivity Matrix: Lessons from the classifications of physical inactivity interventions Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 2006; 9: 98-102.
The aims of this study were to (1) develop a system for classifying physical inactivity intervention studies, (2) examine the distribution of the PI interventions published in the peer-reviewed health literature using a developed system, and (3) consider
Durrheim D, Muller R, Saunders V, Speare R, Lowe J. A population survey: Would Australian general practice be the first point of contact during an anthrax bioterrorism event? Australian family Physician 2006; 35(3): 172-174.
To explore how the Australian population might respond to an anthrax bioterrorism event, a national telephone survey was conducted. Sixty percent of respondents indicated that with a suspected anthrax bioterrorism event general practitioners would be the
http://www.racgp.org.au/document.asp?id=20092
Dalton CB, Bates LI Impact of closure of a large lead-zinc smelter on elevated blood lead levels of children in adjacent suburbs, Boolaroo, Australia Environmental Exposure and Health 2005; 85: 377-387.
A 1991 study of children living near a lead-zinc smelter, which had been established in 1897, found that 84% of children under 5 years of age had blood lead levels >10 µg/dl. An Environmental Health Centre was established to provide free blood lead tes
http://library.witpress.com/pages/listPapers.asp?q_bid=338#15811
Williams K, Leonard H, d'Espaignet Tursan E, Colvin L, Slack-Smith L, Stanley F Hospitalisation from birth to 5 years in a population cohort of Western Australian children with intellectual disability Archives if Disease in Childhood 2005; 90: 1243-1248.
Although intellectual disability (ID) comprises about 7% of all disabling conditions in Australia, relatively little is known about its causes and sequelae. A similar situation applies in other economically developed countries. The US Surgeon General re
http://adc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/90/12/1243
Adams RJ, Wilson DH, Taylor AW, Daly A, d'Espaignet Tursan E, Grande Dal E, Ruffin R Coexistent Chronic Conditions and Asthma Quality of Life Chest Journal 2006; 129(2): 285-291.
Reports of the prevalence and impact of comorbid conditions among people with asthma have been limited to certain population groups and or convenience samples. Our aim was to examine the prevalence of major comorbidity in asthma and associations with qua
http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/full/129/2/285
Wright A, Harris M, Wiggers J, Jorm A, Cotton S, Harrigan S, Hurworth R, McGorry P Recognition of depression and psychosis by young Australians and their beliefs about treatment Medical Journal of Australia 2005; 183(1): 18-23.
A survey was conducted as a baseline measure for the community awareness campaign. The survey identified gaps in mental health literacy which may help to improve community educations and the responsiveness of the health care system, thus ensuring that yo
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_01_040705/wri10870_fm.html
Bates L, Sinclair D, MacKenzie A. Attitudes to routine testing of blood lead levels of children near a lead smelter in North Lake Macquarie Environmental Health 2004 Mar 1;4(1): 45-52
This paper reports on a self administered, pencil and paper questionnaire conducted with participating North Lake Macquarie families on their knowledge of blood lead testing program, satisfaction and opportunities for improvement. The results reveal that
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