The Chief Health Officer has issued a heat health warning for West & South Gippsland with predictions of 30+ degrees based on the Bureau of Meteorology 7-day forecast. https://bit.ly/1Degc0i Here are some simple tips to survive the heat: ► Drink plenty…
07Dec 18
07Dec 18
Health Warning On Mosquitoes And Ross River Virus
The Chief Health Officer has issued a health warning on mosquitoes and Ross River virus Residents and visitors to Victoria are being warned to protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases such as Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus as the…
06Dec 18
Heat Health Warning For East Gippsland
The Chief Health Officer has issued a heat health warning for East Gippsland with predictions of 30+ degrees based on the Bureau of Meteorology 7-day forecast. https://bit.ly/1Degc0i Here are some simple tips to survive the heat: ► Drink plenty of water…
25Sep 18
Lead poisoning associated with illicit opium use
24 September 2018 Status: Active Date issued: 24 September 2018 Issued by: Dr Angie Bone, Deputy Chief Health Officer (Environment), Victoria Issued to: Health professionals, consumers Key messages Be alert for patients presenting with symptoms of lead poisoning, particularly those…
10Aug 18
Candid auris case detected in Victoria
Key messages A Victorian man has been diagnosed with the uncommon fungal superbug Candida auris (also known as C. auris). This is the first known case of C. auris in Victoria. C. auris is a fungus which can cause colonisation on the skin, or invasive infections…
28May 18
Influenza vaccine supply
Due to unprecedented demand across Australia for influenza vaccine in 2018, there is now no stock available for order in Victoria of Fluarix Tetra, FluQuadri, Afluria Quad, Fluzone High Dose and Fluad. There is limited stock of FluQuadri Junior licensed…
19Apr 18
Multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea detected in Australia
Status: Active Date issued: 17 April 2018 Issued by: Dr Brett Sutton, Acting Chief Health Officer, Victoria Issued to: General practitioners Key messages Two cases of multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea infection have been detected in Australia. The emergence of this strain,…
27Mar 18
Hepatitis A outbreak 22 March 2018
Key messages There has been a confirmed case of hepatitis A in a food handler who worked while infectious at Cumulus Inc. restaurant, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Any person who ate food - especially uncooked food - at Cumulus Inc. between 26…
20Mar 18
*UPDATE* Confirmed measles cases in Melbourne March 20
There have been three confirmed cases of measles in Melbourne in March this year, with the infection likely to have been acquired overseas. The three cases are unrelated. The most recent case was infectious on Saturday 10 March at a…
09Mar 18
Confirmed measles case in Melbourne
There has been one confirmed case of measles in Melbourne, with the infection likely to have been acquired overseas. The case was infectious whilst at a number of places across Melbourne between 3 March and 7 March including Flinders Street…
02Mar 18
Listeria outbreak linked to rockmelon (cantaloupe)
Key messages There is a national outbreak of listeriosis linked to the consumption of rockmelon (cantaloupe) from New South Wales, leading to a trade-level recall on Thursday 1 March, 2018. Ten cases have been identified as part of this outbreak…
23Feb 18
Legionnaires’ disease linked to Melbourne’s Central Business District
Three cases of Legionnaires' disease (Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 1) have been identified in the last fortnight involving individuals who have spent time in the south eastern area of Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD). Be alert for Legionnaires’ disease in patients…
23Feb 18
Confirmed Measles Case In Melbourne
There has been one confirmed case of measles in Melbourne. The infection was acquired in Victoria and it is possible that the infection was acquired at Centrelink in Dandenong between Monday 22 January and Friday 2 February 2018. The case…
24Jan 18
Heat Health Alert – East, West and South Gippsland
Sunday 28th January 2018 The Chief Health Officer has issued a heat health alert to notify you of forecast extreme heat conditions at or above heat health temperature thresholds, based on the Bureau of Meteorology 7-day forecast. Organisations should respond…
19Jun 17
Chief Health Officer Alert – Increase in syphilis and gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men (MSM)
Key messages Victorian syphilis and gonorrhoea notifications have increased in the last few years, with cases reported predominantly in men who have sex with men (MSM). Syphilis and gonorrhoea can be transmitted by unprotected vaginal, anal and oral sex. Syphilis…
05Jun 17
Chief Health Officer Alert – Hepatitis A outbreak associated with frozen berries
Key messages An outbreak of hepatitis A virus infection has been identified to be potentially linked to the consumption of Creative Gourmet frozen mixed berries in 300g packs. The product has been recalled as a precaution. Please advise patients not…
01Jun 17
Chief Health Officer Alert – Increased antibiotic resistance
Key messages Shigella bacteria are commonly resistant to some antibiotics, however, increasing antibiotic resistance associated with recent Shigella infections has been observed, particularly in men who have sex with men. Be alert for shigellosis in high risk populations including men…
23May 17
Chief Health Officer Alert – Measles
Key messages There is a confirmed case of measles in a person who was infectious while on flight GA716 from Jakarta to Melbourne, departing Jakarta at 23.55 on Friday, 12 May 2017 and arriving at Tullamarine at 09.20 on Saturday,…
15May 17
Chief Health Officer Alert – Increase in cases of Legionnaires’ disease
Key messages There has been an increase in cases of Legionnaires’ disease (Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 1) notified to the department in recent weeks. As at 11 May 2017, there have been 47 cases of Legionella infection notified to the department…
10May 17
Chief Health Officer Alert – Poisonous mushrooms growing in Melbourne
Key messages Extreme caution is advised when picking and consuming wild mushrooms - if in doubt, don't consume. Poisonous mushrooms including Death Cap mushrooms and Yellow-staining mushrooms are currently growing around Victoria as a result of recent heavy rains. Cooking,…
13Apr 17
Chief Health Officer Alert – Legionnaires’ disease linked to Melbourne’s Central Business District
Key messages Five cases of Legionnaires’ disease (Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 1) have been identified in the last fortnight involving individuals who have spent time in the eastern half of Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) and/or Southbank. Be alert for Legionnaires’…
18Jan 17
Chief Health Officer Alert: Measles
Date issued: 17 January 2017 Issued by: Professor Charles Guest, Chief Health Officer, Victoria Issued to: General Practitioners and Hospital Emergency Departments Key messages There are two (2) confirmed case of measles who were infectious whilst at a number of…
05Jan 17
Chief Health Officer Advisory: Health warning mosquitoes and Ross River virus
Issued by: Professor Charles Guest, Chief Health Officer, Victoria Issued to: Health professionals, aged care facilities, and the Victorian community Date issued: 04 Jan 2017 Key messages Residents and visitors to Victoria are being warned to protect themselves against mosquito-borne…
07Dec 16
Chief Health Officer Advisory: Increase in syphilis and gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men (MSM)
Issued by: Professor Charles Guest, Chief Health Officer, Victoria Issued to: Health professionals, including those working in sexual health Date issued: 7 December 2016 Key messages Victorian syphilis and gonorrhoea notifications have increased in the last few years, with cases…