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Influenza virus.
Infectious diseases
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the larger airways in your lungs, which causes an ongoing cough. Learn how to reduce the risk of bronchitis.
Chickenpox (varicella)
Chickenpox is a mild and common childhood illness, but can also occur in adults. Here’s how to help ease symptoms and discomfort.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in Australia. Find out how you can help avoid it and when to get tested.
Colds and flu (influenza)
Colds and flu are different illnesses caused by different viruses. Learn about difference between colds and flu and read our advice on how to best pre...
Cough
Most coughs are caused by viruses which inflame the throat, windpipe or lungs. Here are some tips to relieve the symptoms.
Conjunctivitis
Known as ‘pink eye’, conjunctivitis is a contagious disease that turns the whites of the eye pink. Read about symptoms and treatments here.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea may last for only a few days, or may be a sign of something else. Find out here about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments.
Ebola virus
Ebola is a rare and often fatal illness. Learn about the Ebola virus, who’s at risk, symptoms and treatment options.
Genital herpes
Genital herpes is spread by skin-to-skin contact – even through kissing or foreplay. There are things you can do to control it, so read on.
Gonorrhoea (the clap)
Also known as 'the clap', gonorrhoea often has no symptoms. Learn how to spot symptoms, maintain and how gonorrhoea is treated.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B can lead to liver damage over time. If it turns out you have hepatitis B, it is important to protect others from infection. Find out how.
HIV infection and AIDS
Today, people with HIV are unlikely to develop AIDS if they get effective treatment. Here’s what to do if you think you might have been exposed.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection that causes sores and blisters. It's very common and affects mainly children.
Lyssavirus (ABLV)
Find out about Australian bat Lyssavirus, and learn how it can be prevented if you are bitten or scratched by a bat.
Measles
Anyone can get measles if they haven't been vaccinated or haven't had measles before, but it's most common in kids. Learn more about this illness.
Mumps
Mumps is a contagious viral infection, most common in children between 5 and 15 years. These days it’s rare thanks to effective immunisation.
Rubella (German measles)
Rubella (also known as German measles) is best prevented by the MMR vaccination. Learn more about its distinctive rash, other symptoms and treatments.
Shingles
Shingles is a painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus. Find out how to recognise the symptoms and what treatments are available.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is when the hollow spaces in the bones of your face become inflamed. Sinusitis is a common symptom for colds and the flu and it can be diffi...
Sore throat (pharyngitis)
A sore throat is normally a symptom of a bacterial or viral infection and is common with a cold or flu.Learn more about the self-care of sore throats.
Staph infections
Trusted information on a staph infection, including what it is, who is at risk, how you get it, treatment and prevention, plus links to other resource...
Syphilis
Syphilis is relatively rare in Australia. It can cause serious health problems if left untreated. However, syphilis is easy to cure if found early.
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an infection and swelling of the tonsils at the back of the throat. Learn about its symptoms and treatments.
Whooping cough
Whooping cough is a contagious bacterial infection and is most serious in babies. Here’s how to spot the symptoms and protect infants.
Tuberculosis
This highly infectious disease, which mostly affects the lungs, can be spread through coughing, sneezing, speaking or even singing.
Vomiting
Vomiting in adults is usually not a sign of anything serious and tends to only last one or two days. Learn the causes and when to seek medical advice.
Worms in humans
Signs of a threadworm infection include an itchy bottom, disturbed sleep, irritability, tiredness and a lack of interest in eating.
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Department of Health | Communicable diseases information
This page contains information on some of the activities of the Office of Health Protection, in managing communicable diseases in Australia
Read more on Department of Health website
Department of Health | About Communicable Diseases Network Australia
Information page about the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA). It details the CDNA's background; its various committees and activities; the composition of the CDNA; and recent publications and contact details.
Read more on Department of Health website
Department of Health | Australian national notifiable diseases and case definitions
The Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) has agreed that the following list of communicable diseases are to be notified nationally and provided to the Commonwealths National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). CDNA has developed the Surveillance Case Definitions available on this page.
Read more on Department of Health website
Notification of infectious diseases and related conditions
Notifiable infectious diseases must be reported the Department of Health (the Department).
Read more on WA Health website
Infectious Conditions - Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
This section provides information about infectious conditions (also known as contagious or communicable diseases) that affect the health and quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C), influenza, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and gastrointestinal conditions.
Read more on Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet website
Infectious Disease
Read more on NSW Health website
Department of Health | Vaccine Preventable Diseases
Vaccination against a range of bacterial and viral diseases is an integral part of communicable disease control world-wide. Vaccination against a specific disease not only reduces the incidence of that disease, it reduces the social and economic burden of the disease on communities. Very high immunisation coverage can lead to complete blocking of transmission for many vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). The world-wide eradication of smallpox and the near eradication of polio from many countries provide excellent examples of the role of immunisation in disease control.
Read more on Department of Health website
Infectious Diseases Exclusion Periods Tool - myDr.com.au
When can your child go back to school or childcare after an infectious disease such as whooping cough or mumps? Find out with our infectious diseases exclusion periods tool.
Read more on myDr website
Infectious Diseases | Public Health
Notifiable diseases are those with a significancefor public health and must by law be reported to the Director of Public Health
Read more on Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services website
Infectious disease testing - Lab Tests Online AU
Introduction to a series of articles developed to provide a behind the scenes look at clinical laboratories.
Read more on Lab Tests Online website
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Department of Health | About Communicable Diseases Intelligence
This page contains introductory information about the journal Communicable Diseases Intelligence
Read more on Department of Health website
Measles
National guidelines for public health unit
The Series of National Guidelines have been developed in consultation with the Communicable Diseases Network Australia and endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Committee. Their purpose is to provide nationally consistent advice and guidance to public health units in responding to a notifiable disease event. These guidelines capture the knowledge of experienced professionals, build on past research efforts, and provide advice on best practice based upon the best available evidence at the time of completion
Read more on Department of Health website
The effect of lay health workers on mother and child health and infectious diseases | Cochrane
A review of the effect of using lay health workers to improve mother and child health and to help people with infectious diseases was carried out by researchers in The Cochrane Collaboration. After searching for all relevant studies, they found 82 studies. Their findings are summarised below.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Adjunctive steroid therapy for managing pulmonary tuberculosis | Cochrane
Pulmonary tuberculosis is a common infectious disease. Although curable with standard anti-pulmonary tuberculosis drugs, it has been reported that an individuals recovery could be improved by adding corticosteroids to their treatment. Current clinical guidelines advise the use of corticosteroids for treatment of other types of tuberculosis; tuberculosis meningitis and tuberculosis pericarditis. Whether corticosteroids would be beneficial in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis remains unclear. After reviewing the evidence available to datewe found that there was not enough high quality data to support or reject corticosteroid use alongside anti-pulmonary tuberculosis drugs.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Screening programmes for tuberculosis | Cochrane
Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that affects over nine million people each year. The disease is spread by airborne droplets, which arise in the infected lungs of tuberculosis patients. Despite widespread availability of treatment with effective antibiotic therapies, the disease remains common in many resource limited settings. This review aimed to determine whether systematic screening all the direct contacts with people with proven TB disease increases the early detection of tuberculosis. The review found that there are not currently any suitable randomized controlled trials to answer this question and there is insufficient evidence to show whether screening programmes for tuberculosis will improve the rate of diagnosis among contacts of tuberculosis patients or reduce the rate of tuberculosis in the community.Therefore there is a need for further research to determine the benefits of systematic screening of the contacts of tuberculosis patients.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Centre-based day care for children younger than five years of age in low- and middle-income countries | Cochrane
Centre-based day care for children younger than five years of age in low- and middle-income countries
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Department of Health | Communicable Diseases Intelligence
Communicable Diseases Intelligence (CDI) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Office of Health Protection, Department of Health. The journal aims to disseminate information on the epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases of relevance to Australia.
Read more on Department of Health website
Department of Health | Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA)Conferences
The Communicable Diseases Control conferences are held biennially.
Read more on Department of Health website
Department of Health | Surveillance systems reported in Communicable Diseases Intelligence, 2016
Communicable Diseases Intelligence, publishes a number of annual, quarterly, and regular reports produced by various communicable disease surveillance groups. This document summarises the methodology used for each of these regular reports to be published during 2016
Read more on Department of Health website
Department of Health | Laboratory case definitions for diagnosis of communicable diseases
The Public Health Laboratory Network have developed a case definition to be used for diagnosis of certain communicable diseases. This page contains links to these case definitions.
Read more on Department of Health website
