Q Fever: How Common Is It And How Can We Best Prevent It? Research To Inform Q Fever Vaccine Policy In Australia And Internationally
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,376.00
Summary
Q fever is a disease of worldwide importance which has special significance for Australia where outbreaks continue to occur. We will measure the burden of Q fever in the Australian population for the first time, measure how long immunity lasts following vaccination, collect extra information on adverse events in young adults and survey knowledge and attitudes of Q fever disease and vaccine. The results will inform policies for the control of Q fever in Australia and internationally.
I am a paediatrician with experience in tropical medicine in northern Australia, the Solomon Islands and Fiji. The prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease in the Pacific, including Indigenous children in Australia, is amongst the highest in the world, and my project will investigate ways to reduce the burden of this disease. I will examine population screening with echocardiography (ultrasound) to detect the disease before children become sick, and investigate ways to improve patient management.