A Prospective Study To Examine The Effectiveness And Safety Of Antivirals Against Pandemic Influenza
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$142,394.00
Summary
Pandemic influenza could cause significant mortality in populations of Australia and the south-east Asian region. Currently, avian influenza A (H5N1) is a concern to public health agencies because of its extreme pathogenicity. At present this strain is not transmitted readily between humans. A number of drugs are available to treat influenza infection in humans and research has shown these to be effective in preventing significant mortality in the setting of seasonal influenza epidemics (specifi ....Pandemic influenza could cause significant mortality in populations of Australia and the south-east Asian region. Currently, avian influenza A (H5N1) is a concern to public health agencies because of its extreme pathogenicity. At present this strain is not transmitted readily between humans. A number of drugs are available to treat influenza infection in humans and research has shown these to be effective in preventing significant mortality in the setting of seasonal influenza epidemics (specifically the influenza neuraminidase inhibitors _NIs). As a consequence public health agencies around the world have been stockpiling these drugs and developing sophisticated plans for their use if an influenza pandemic was announced. However, there are no data indicating that the neuraminidase inhibitors (NIs) are safe and effective when used to manage pandemic influenza. Neither are there any data to support the use of these drugs on a population basis. Genetic resistance to NIS has been described but it is not clear if this has any relevance to public health. Our research will clarify this issue. This project will develop a number of clinical trials that could be implemented rapidly should pandemic influenza ever be announced by health authorities in Australia-Singapore or Hong Kong. Patients with suspected influenza infection will be asked to provide informed consent prior to commencing NI therapy. Clinical information will then be collected for a period of approximately one month along with some blood samples and swabs from the throat and nasal passages. Data will be analysed as quickly as possible to help inform the continued use of NI therapy as a cornerstone of the public health agency response to pandemic influenza. In addition, the study team will prepare clinical trials to be conducted in essential workers who are likely to receive long-term NI preventive treatment as well as the immediate contacts of people with presumed influenza infection who are likely to receive short-term prophylaxis with NIs.Read moreRead less
Potential Avian Influenza-induced Pandemic: Minimising Public Panic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$249,854.00
Summary
Communication appearing in the Australian media regarding a potential bird flu epidemic can serve to accurately and effectively inform the public OR misinform and contribute to panic and undesirable behavioural responses. The Australian Government has time to develop communication strategies and specific messages that can effectively convey desired information at different stages of the anticipated pandemic. This research team proposes to develop communication strategies (including specific mess ....Communication appearing in the Australian media regarding a potential bird flu epidemic can serve to accurately and effectively inform the public OR misinform and contribute to panic and undesirable behavioural responses. The Australian Government has time to develop communication strategies and specific messages that can effectively convey desired information at different stages of the anticipated pandemic. This research team proposes to develop communication strategies (including specific messages, media vehicles, spokespeople, images etc for the different target audiences) that government, medical authorities, NGOs and other relevant organisations can use to increase the public's understanding of the risk. Such strategies will ensure that we can minimise fear, refute misinformation the public may encounter from individuals (e.g., co-workers) or media sources, and enhance the likelihood of the public taking the recommended preventive and remedial actions should an Avian Influenza pandemic occur. Additionally, the research team will then utilise these communication strategies to develop evidence-based guidelines for communication strategies to be used in cases of similar serious health threats in Australia. Based at the University of Wollongong, the project team is a sophisticated and synergistically qualified team of experts. The team includes: a main media health promotions expert (Associate Professor Sandra Jones); two marketing communications experts, one of whom has an academic focus and the other a practitioner focus (Professor John Rossiter and Dr Max Sutherland respectively); a public health and medical expert in health behaviour change (Professor Don Iverson); a senior public health campaigns expert (Professor Chris Puplick), and an expert in communicable diseases and infection control education and programs (Professor Julian Gold).Read moreRead less
Production Of Nasal Filters: Enhanced Prophylactic Protection From Aerosol Exposure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$147,000.00
Summary
Influenza is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted via infective secretions containing the virus. An infected person produces tiny droplets of these secretions when coughing, sneezing, and talking, and the droplets are disseminated into the air where they are subsequently inhaled by others. A common way of preventing such transmission is to wear a mask to prevent droplet inhalation. While such masks may greatly reduce exposure, they do not eliminate it, as some viruses can pass around ....Influenza is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted via infective secretions containing the virus. An infected person produces tiny droplets of these secretions when coughing, sneezing, and talking, and the droplets are disseminated into the air where they are subsequently inhaled by others. A common way of preventing such transmission is to wear a mask to prevent droplet inhalation. While such masks may greatly reduce exposure, they do not eliminate it, as some viruses can pass around the edges of masks, particularly if it fits poorly, and also a small percentage can pass through the filter material. While influenza is usually not a major health problem in the general community, the emergence of a more hazardous strain will place an additional burden on health care and other facilities, and requires the development and optimization of measures to minimize virus spread and protect those who are exposed. The aim of this project is to build small filters that can be worn in the nose to provide additional filtration of inhaled air. These filters would be worn in combination with a mask in high exposure circumstances, such as by health care workers when treating infected patients or could be used when a mask was not normally worn to provide effective and discreet protection, such as in crowded public places. Developing such filters builds on our experience of making small samplers worn in the nose to measure allergen exposure. This experience is combined with advanced filter materials developed by leading US researchers that permit the efficient filtration of particles as small as viruses. This project will be conducted in collaboration with a leading Australian design group, and we will design and evaluate such filters for their ability to capture virus and thus protect the wearer. The filters should provide an intuitive, effective and inexpensive method to be used in combination with other hygiene measures to increase personal protection from acquiring highly transmissible respiratory diseases, particularly influenza. We expect to have prototypes of the filters available in 6 months so that production can commence.Read moreRead less
A Comprehensive Regulatory Strategy For Obesity Prevention In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$810,696.00
Summary
This research aims to develop regulatory approaches to obesity prevention and the reduction of socio-economic inequalities in obesity prevalence. Laws related to the provision, marketing, and labelling of food, urban planning, transportation, taxes and subsidies and so on will be comprehensively analysed and prioritised, and options proposed for legislative reform. The evidence-base and the implementation pathways will be developed contemporaneously and will be widely promoted to governments. A ....This research aims to develop regulatory approaches to obesity prevention and the reduction of socio-economic inequalities in obesity prevalence. Laws related to the provision, marketing, and labelling of food, urban planning, transportation, taxes and subsidies and so on will be comprehensively analysed and prioritised, and options proposed for legislative reform. The evidence-base and the implementation pathways will be developed contemporaneously and will be widely promoted to governments. A significant portion of time will be devoted to working closely with those within the bureaucracy who administer the law and legislators who together make the relevant policy decisions so that they may gain an understanding of the rationale behind each recommendation.Read moreRead less