Objective:The Australian Capital Territory Health Directorate was notified of a food handler with hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. To guide the public health response, a rapid risk assessment was undertaken to determine the risk of transmission of HEV from the infected food handler to restaurant patrons.Method:The literature on HEV was reviewed and expert advice sought from clinical and public health specialists. This was supplemented by results of a site investigation and a case interview. The risk rating was determined to be the product of the likelihood of transmission and the consequence of the infection.Results:The food handler was likely to have been infectious at the time he was working at the restaurant. He had handled high-risk foods, and the site inspection revealed potential opportunities for transmission. HEV is not common in Australia and it was assumed that the population was non-immune and hence susceptible to the disease. Therefore, there was a low but possible likelihood of transmission of HEV. If infected, HEV has the potential for major consequences in vulnerable populations especially among women who are pregnant. The overall level of risk was considered to be very high.Discussion:The general public and health practitioners were alerted to enable early identification of symptoms and prompt disease management. There were no secondary cases of HEV associated with this event. In the absence of published guidelines and limited evidence, a risk assessment framework was a useful tool to inform public health decision-making.

ObjectiveTo compare differences in life satisfaction, quality of life and mood between UK and Chinese tetraplegia patients after rehabilitation.MethodsThe sample consisted of 44 tetraplegics, 22 from UK and 22 from China, the survey about life satisfaction, quality of life, anxiety and depression was made and analyzed.ResultsPatients of UK group were significantly more satisfied with their situations of vocational and financial, and family life than that in Chinese group, and more active with their value of life, meaning of life and mood than that in Chinese group. No significant differences were identified between two groups in life as a whole, self care, leisure situation, sexual life, partnership relations, contact with friends and ratings of overall quality of life.ConclusionIt is very important to enhance the psychological adaptation of disability so as to improve the quality of life of the tetraplegics in China.