1.New South Wales annual vaccine-preventable disease report, 2012
Alexander Rosewell ; Paula Spokes ; Robin Gilmour
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2014;5(2):15-22
We aim to describe the epidemiology of selected vaccine-preventable diseases in New South Wales (NSW) for 2012. Data from the NSW Notifiable Conditions Information Management System were analysed by: local health district of residence, age, Aboriginality, vaccination status and organism, where available. Risk factor and vaccination status data were collected by public health units for cases following notification under the NSW Public Health Act 2010. The largest outbreak of measles since 1998 was reported in 2012. Pacific Islander and Aboriginal people were at higher risk as were infants less than 12 months of age. Notifications of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children less than five years declined; however, the overall number of notifications for IPD increased. Mumps case notifications were also elevated. There were no
2.New South Wales annual vaccine-preventable disease report, 2013
Rosewell Alexander ; Spokes Paula ; Gilmour Robin
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2015;6(2):37-44
Aim:To describe the epidemiology of selected vaccine-preventable diseases in New South Wales, Australia for 2013.Methods:Data from the New South Wales Notifiable Conditions Information Management System were analysed by local health district of residence, age, Aboriginality, vaccination status and organism. Risk factor and vaccination status data were collected by public health units.Results:Pertussis notification rates in infants were low, and no infant pertussis deaths were reported. Despite a high number of imported measles cases, there was limited secondary transmission. The invasive meningococcal disease notification rate declined, and disease due to serogroup C remained low and stable.Conclusion:Vaccine-preventable diseases were relatively well controlled in New South Wales in 2013, with declining or stable notification rates in most diseases compared with the previous year.
3.Event-based surveillance in Papua New Guinea: strengthening an International Health Regulations (2005) core capacity
Dagina Rosheila ; Murhekar Manoj ; Rosewell Alexander ; Pavlin Boris
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2013;4(3):19-25
Under the International Health Regulations (2005), Member States are required to develop capacity in event-based surveillance (EBS). The Papua New Guinea National Department of Health established an EBS system during the influenza pandemic in August 2009. We review its performance from August 2009 to November 2012, sharing lessons that may be useful to other low-resource public health practitioners working in surveillance.
We examined the EBS system’s event reporting, event verification and response. Characteristics examined included type of event, source of information, timeliness, nature of response and outcome.
Sixty-one records were identified. The median delay between onset of the event and date of reporting was 10 days. The largest proportion of reports (39%) came from Provincial Health Offices, followed by direct reports from clinical staff (25%) and reports in the media (11%). Most (84%) of the events were substantiated to be true public health events, and 56% were investigated by the Provincial Health Office alone. A confirmed or probable etiology could not be determined in 69% of true events.
EBS is a simple strategy that forms a cornerstone of public health surveillance and response particularly in low-resource settings such as Papua New Guinea. There is a need to reinforce reporting pathways, improve timeliness of reporting, expand sources of information, improve feedback and improve diagnostic support capacity. For it to be successful, EBS should be closely tied to response.
4.Improving ethnocultural data to inform public health responses to communicable diseases in Australia
Emma Quinn ; Peter Massey ; Alexander Rosewell ; Mitchell Smith ; David Durrheim
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2014;5(2):1-4
It is well established that ethnocultural groups of migrants are associated with a differential risk of communicable disease, including measles, tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Global public health agencies
5.Human resources for health: lessons from the cholera outbreak in Papua New Guinea
Rosewell Alexander ; Bieb Sibauk ; Clark Geoff ; Miller Geoff ; MacIntyre Raina ; Zwi Anthony
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2013;4(3):9-13
Issue:Papua New Guinea is striving to achieve the minimum core requirements under the International Health Regulations in surveillance and outbreak response, and has experienced challenges in the availability and distribution of health professionals.Context:Since mid-2009, a large cholera outbreak spread across lowland regions of the country and has been associated with more than 15 500 notifications at a case fatality ratio of 3.2%. The outbreak placed significant pressure on clinical and public health services.Action:We describe some of the challenges to cholera preparedness and response in this human resource-limited setting, the strategies used to ensure effective cholera management and lessons learnt.Outcome:Cholera task forces were useful to establish a clear system of leadership and accountability for cholera outbreak response and ensure efficiencies in each technical area. Cholera outbreak preparedness and response was strongest when human resource and health systems functioned well before the outbreak. Communication relied on coordination of existing networks and methods for empowering local leaders and villagers to modify behaviours of the population.Discussion:In line with the national health emergencies plan, the successes of human resource strategies during the cholera outbreak should be built upon through emergency exercises, especially in non-affected provinces. Population needs for all public health professionals involved in health emergency preparedness and response should be mapped, and planning should be implemented to increase the numbers in relevant areas. Human resource planning should be integrated with health emergency planning. It is essential to maintain and strengthen the human resource capacities and experiences gained during the cholera outbreak to ensure a more effective response to the next health emergency.
6.Vibrio cholerae antimicrobial drug resistance, Papua New Guinea, 2009–2011
Murhekar Manoj ; Dutta Samir ; Ropa Berry ; Dagina Rosheila ; Posanai Enoch ; Rosewell Alexander
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2013;4(3):60-62
Cholera is an acute infectious disease caused by
7.Sustained outbreak of measles in New South Wales, 2012: risks for measles elimination in Australia
Najjar Zeina ; Hope Kirsty ; Clark Penelope ; Nguyen Oanh ; Rosewell Alexander ; Conaty Stephen
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2014;5(1):14-20
Objective:On 7 April 2012, a recently returned traveller from Thailand to Australia was confirmed to have measles. An outbreak of measles subsequently occurred in the state of New South Wales, prompting a sustained and coordinated response by public health authorities. The last confirmed case presented on 29 November 2012. This report describes the outbreak and its characteristics.Methods:Cases were investigated following Australian protocols, including case interviews and assessment of contacts for post-exposure prophylaxis.Results:Of the 168 cases identified, most occurred in south-western and western Sydney (92.9%,
8.Improved laboratory capacity is required to respond better to future cholera outbreaks in Papua New Guinea
Andrew Greenhill ; Alexander Rosewell ; Monalisa Kas ; Laurens Manning ; Leomeldo Latorre ; Peter Siba ; Paul Horwood
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2012;3(2):30-32
Cholera was first detected in Papua New Guinea in July 2009, caused by Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor serotype Ogawa. By late 2011, 15 500 cases had been reported throughout lowland Papua New Guinea with a case fatality rate of 3.2%. The epidemic has since slowed, with only sporadic cases reported in Western Province and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARB). Accurate and timely diagnosis is a critical element of the public health response to cholera, yet in low-income countries where the burden of cholera is the greatest, diagnostic services are often limited. Here we report on the diagnostic challenges and the logistical factors that impacted on diagnosis during the first reported outbreak of cholera in Papua New Guinea.
9.Field epidemiology training programmes in the Asia-Pacific: what is best practice for supervision?
Owen Forbes ; Stephanie Davis ; Amalie Dyda ; Alexander Rosewell ; Stephanie Williams ; Martyn Kirk ; Maria Concepcion Roces ; Consorcia Lim-Quizon ; Kerri Viney
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2019;10(4):9-17
Introduction:
Field epidemiology training programmes (FETPs) emphasize competency-based training and learning by doing. Supervision of FETP trainees is critical for programmes to achieve learning outcomes. We sought to address a knowledge gap regarding what constitutes effective FETP supervision.
Methods:
We investigated FETP supervision using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through a survey of FETP directors. Qualitative data included written feedback from the survey and a focus group discussion (FGD) conducted with FETP supervisors at the 8th South-East Asia and Western Pacific Bi-regional TEPHINET Conference. FGD questions focused on effective supervisory qualities and activities and challenges to effective supervision. We calculated descriptive statistics for quantitative data and analysed qualitative data using a deductive content analysis approach.
Results:
Eleven FETP directors responded to the survey and 23 participated in the FGD. Overall, supervision was seen as very important for trainee outcomes. Participants identified the different roles of academic and field supervisors but emphasized the importance of an enabling and supporting attitude towards trainees. Soft skills and interpersonal abilities were among the most important qualities identified for effective supervision. Key challenges identified included a lack of consistency in supervisors’ technical knowledge and the difficulty of finding candidate supervisors with sufficient interest, availability and motivation for supervision.
Discussion
Several practical recommendations arose from this study for supervision in FETPs, including recruiting and training supervisors with a more holistic range of skills. Our findings also provide key points for current FETP supervisors to consider to improve their own practice.