112 research outputs found
Vegetation parameters as indicators for salt marsh mosquito larval control in coastal swamps in northern Australia
No full textDarwin is the largest city in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, located on the north coast, with a population of approximately 117,400 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2008). The Darwin area experiences a monsoonal climate with
an annual average rainfall of 1600 mm, with most rainfall occurring in the wet season from November to April. A number
of the northern Darwin residential suburbs are adjacent to an extensive coastal reed and upper mangrove wetland, which experiences seasonal tidal inundation. This wetland produces seasonal high numbers of the northern salt marsh mosquito Aedes vigilax (Skuse) (Whelan 1989). Aedes vigilax is not only recognised as a major pest species (Mackerras 1926, Marks 1967, Gislason and Russell 1997, Webb and Russell 1999) but is a major vector for Ross River and Barmah Forest virus (Whelan et al. 1997, Russell 1998, Jacups 2008), which together constitute the majority of arbovirus infections in Australia (Merianos et al. 1992, Tai et al. 1993, Russell 1994, Russell 1995, Jacups et al. 2008). Thus, the control of Ae. vigilax is of great importance for disease prevention as well as nuisance reduction to the Australian public (Liu et al. 2008, Jacups et al. 2008).
Integrated mosquito control measures, including aerial and ground mosquito larval control, and engineering measures have been carried out in the coastal wetland area since 1983 to reduce pest numbers of Ae. vigilax, and the risk for arbovirus disease in Darwin (Brogan et al. 2002, Whelan 2007). This paper outlines the physical conditions that influence Ae. vigilax larval abundance. By focussing on the most productive vegetation types for Ae. vigilax, survey time may be reduced and the efficiency of aerial salt marsh mosquito larval control may be maximised
Vegetation parameters as indicators for salt marsh mosquito larval control in coastal swamps in northern Australia
No full textDarwin is the largest city in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, located on the north coast, with a population of approximately 117,400 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2008). The Darwin area experiences a monsoonal climate with
an annual average rainfall of 1600 mm, with most rainfall occurring in the wet season from November to April. A number
of the northern Darwin residential suburbs are adjacent to an extensive coastal reed and upper mangrove wetland, which experiences seasonal tidal inundation. This wetland produces seasonal high numbers of the northern salt marsh mosquito Aedes vigilax (Skuse) (Whelan 1989). Aedes vigilax is not only recognised as a major pest species (Mackerras 1926, Marks 1967, Gislason and Russell 1997, Webb and Russell 1999) but is a major vector for Ross River and Barmah Forest virus (Whelan et al. 1997, Russell 1998, Jacups 2008), which together constitute the majority of arbovirus infections in Australia (Merianos et al. 1992, Tai et al. 1993, Russell 1994, Russell 1995, Jacups et al. 2008). Thus, the control of Ae. vigilax is of great importance for disease prevention as well as nuisance reduction to the Australian public (Liu et al. 2008, Jacups et al. 2008).
Integrated mosquito control measures, including aerial and ground mosquito larval control, and engineering measures have been carried out in the coastal wetland area since 1983 to reduce pest numbers of Ae. vigilax, and the risk for arbovirus disease in Darwin (Brogan et al. 2002, Whelan 2007). This paper outlines the physical conditions that influence Ae. vigilax larval abundance. By focussing on the most productive vegetation types for Ae. vigilax, survey time may be reduced and the efficiency of aerial salt marsh mosquito larval control may be maximised.Date:200
The continuing role of Haemophilus influenzae type b carriage surveillance as a mechanism for early detection of invasive disease activity
No full textPrior to the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines, Hib was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children under five years of age worldwide. In countries that have adopted Hib vaccination schedules, invasive disease has reduced markedly. Oro-naso pharyngeal carriage is recognized as the most significant source of infection. Hib carriage is significantly associated with poverty, such as overcrowding, poor ventilation in houses, lack of running water, and high smoking rates. Additionally, many Indigenous minority groups report high rates of Hib carriage. A resurgence of Hib disease among Alaskan children in the 1990s, lead to a change in approach to eliminate Hib disease and carriage in high-risk populations. This new approach identifies strategies for eliminating Hib disease focusing on the reservoirs of colonization within families and communities. Monitoring Hib carriage continues to offer an early warning system, whereby intervention could prevent invasive disease resurgence
Alcohol restrictions and drink driving in remote Indigenous communities in Queensland, Australia
No full textAlcohol restrictions have been implemented in many Indigenous communities internationally,with the aim to reduce alcohol-related harm. Whilst a range of reviews have evaluated such restrictions using different measures, drink driving has been described in several reviews as increasing. Presently, this remains anecdotal; with limited empirical evidence to corroborate these reports. In Australia, the Queensland government introduced alcohol management plans in remote Indigenous communities, during 2002-2003, with total alcohol prohibition commencing in 2008 in some communities. Given road crashes are one of the leading causes of injuries for Indigenous peoples, this study aims to identify if the restrictions have been successful in reducing drink driving or have increased such behaviour. We examine this by reviewing changes in conviction rates and in offender and offence characteristics following the 2008 restrictions. Using de-identified Queensland court drink driving conviction data (2006-2011), from four Indigenous communities, Robust Poisson regression models compared counts of drink driving convictions pre (2006-2008) versus post SRS (2009-2011). Changes in offender characteristics and conviction details (blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and sentencing severity), were examined using chi-squares. Results indicate a decline in convictions after the 2008 SRS in three communities. However, a significant increase in convictions was identified in one study community. Community-level disparity included significant decline in BAC in one community (χ 2=5.58, p=0.02) compared with the three other communities that did not indicate change and a significant increase the number of women convicted in two communities (χ 2=17.36, p<0.01; χ 2=5.79, p=0.04). Alcohol restrictions may have important implications in road safety with these reductions in convictions and BAC in some communities. However, an increase in the number of women convicted and limited changes in BAC for other communities demonstrate the complex relationship between alcohol use, remoteness and driving. Greater focus on demand reduction strategies may be necessary to address alcohol misuse
Emerg Infect Dis
No full textIn a 12-year prospective study of 318 culture-confirmed cases of melioidosis from the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia, rainfall data for individual patient locations were correlated with patient risk factors, clinical parameters, and outcomes. Median rainfall in the 14 days before admission was highest (211 mm) for those dying with melioidosis, in comparison to 110 mm for those surviving (p=0.0002). Median 14-day rainfall was also significantly higher for those with pneumonia. On univariate analysis, a prior 14-day rainfall of 125 mm was significantly correlated with pneumonia (odds ratio [OR] 1.70 [confidence interval [CI] 1.09 to 2.65]), bacteremia (OR 1.93 [CI 1.24 to 3.02]), septic shock (OR 1.94 [CI 1.14 to 3.29]), and death (OR 2.50 [CI 1.36 to 4.57]). On multivariate analysis, rainfall in the 14 days before admission was an independent risk factor for pneumonia (p=0.023), bacteremic pneumonia (p=0.001), septic shock (p=0.005), and death (p<0.0001). Heavy monsoonal rains and winds may cause a shift towards inhalation of Burkholderia pseudomallei
Warmer waters in the Northern Territory: herald an earlier onset to the annual Chironex fleckeri stinger season
No full textThe discovery that Chironex fleckeri occurs annually in northern Australia occurred long ago, possibly before written records were available by local indigenous people, however, to date the precision of this yearly phenomenon is still not fully understood. Sea surface temperature (SST) appears to be a determining factor signaling the "arrival" of C. fleckeri each year. Anthropogenic climate change modeling predicts global rises in SST. Rises in SST may result in an earlier "arrival" of C. fleckeri during the dry season, possibly necessitating extension of the official Northern Territory stinger season to commence in September (currently October through to June). This short report presents data to support this hypothesis, facilitating policy makers with an environmental cue upon which changes to current stinger season can be based—prior to painful and potentially life-threatening presentations
Who reads science fiction and fantasy, and how do they feel about science? Preliminary findings from an online survey
No full textThis article describes findings from an online survey Science Fiction & Fantasy: Your Experiences, launched in November 2015 and closed 1 year later, which received 909 unique responses. The survey identified characteristics of readers of science fiction, their knowledge and experiences of works, authors, and subgenres. It examined their attitudes to science and science fiction and their judgment of the similarity between real and fictional scientists. Contrary to declining reading habits, the science fiction and fantasy audience read consistently high volumes of books, as well as watching genre TV and film. We discovered that reading science fiction and fantasy may have a role in sustained, and cognitively beneficial, adoption of reading by young people and is complementary to other forms of consumption, rather than competitive. Science fiction was also found to be an important influence on the perception and acceptance of science by the public. Implications of this are that science fiction and fantasy are now a normal part of life for a wide range of people, and science fiction has a positive influence on popular interpretation, acceptance, and support of scientific endeavors. These results support earlier work that suggests science fiction is a valuable research tool for public engagement with science
The epidemiology of community acquired bacteremic pneumonia, due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, in the Top End of the Northern Territory, Australia—over 22 years
No full textBackground: Diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae continue to cause substantial morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Furthermore, detrimental outcomes are more pronounced in some populations—such as those living in third world poverty, and Indigenous people who live in developed nations.
Methods: This study describes the epidemiology of blood culture positive S. pneumoniae community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia. Demographics, indigenous status, medical risk factors, serotype and outcomes were collected from adults presenting to hospital with blood culture positive S. pneumoniae CAP, from 1987 to 2008.
Results: We report 205 cases, with a median age of 40 years. The average overall incidence rate ratio was 10.3 for indigenous adults compared with non-indigenous adults. There was no statistical difference between incidence rates pre and post-23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV) introduction. Serotypes in presenting cases were predominantly (84.7%) 23vPPV types. The whole-population logistic regression model identified significant adjusted relative risks: 95% CI, for age 45 and older 1.6: 1.1, 2.2, indigenous 5.9: 3.7, 9.5, diabetes 2.3: 1.6, 3.3, excess alcohol 4.8: 2.8, 8.3, smoking 2.7: 1.9, 3.7 with indigenous + excess alcohol 18.5: 17.3, 19.7 as predictive for bacteremic S. pneumoniae CAP presentation.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that, the national 23vPPV program appears to be under-utilized. An integrated Public Health approach vigorously targeting indigenous adolescents, before substances such as alcohol and smoking are habitual, together with increased vaccine coverage, will reduce the burden of pneumococcal disease in this population
Is the evidence-based medicine movement counter-productive: are randomised controlled trials the best approach to establish evidence in complex healthcare situations?
No full textIn the modern era, evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been embraced as the best approach to practising medicine, providing clinicians with ‘objective’ evidence from clinical research. However, for presentations with complex pathophysiology or from complex social environments, sometimes there remains no evidence, and no amount of research will obtain it. Yet, health researchers continue to undertake randomised controlled trials (RCT) in complex environments, ignoring the risk that participants’ health may be compromised throughout the trial process.
This paper examines the role of research that seeks to obtain evidence to support EBM. We provide examples of RCTs on ear disease in Aboriginal populations as a case-in-point. Decades of ear research have failed to yield statistically significant findings, demonstrating that when multiple factors are at play, study designs struggle to balance the known disease process drivers, let alone unknown drivers. This paper asks the reader to consider if the pursuit of research is likely to produce evidence in complex situations; or if perhaps RCTs should not be undertaken in these situations. Instead, clinicians could apply empirical evidence, tailoring treatments to individuals while taking into account the complexities of their life circumstances
A comparison of adult mosquito trapping regimes across seasons and ecosystems in Darwin, Australia
No full textMosquitoes are problematic as vectors and pests in many tropical cities, including Darwin, the principal city in the Northern Territory of Australia. To monitor peaks in mosquito populations, the Medical Entomology unit of the Health Department sets overnight CO₂-baited traps weekly. Trap setting and retrieving, followed by mosquito counting and identification, are labor intensive. Aiming to reduce this workload, we tested the hypothesis that fortnightly trapping is as effective as weekly trapping across seasons and ecologically distinct systems in Darwin. We applied cross-sectional negative binomial mixed effects models, which adjusted for rain and calendar month, to existing historical data. Culex annulirostris peaks were effectively identified using fortnightly trapping across all three ecological systems, during wet/dry and build-up seasonal patterns. For Aedes vigilax, fortnightly trapping was adequate in identifying peaks during wet and dry season months, but inadequate during build-up months across all three ecological systems. Therefore, weekly trapping should continue during build-up months, but trapping could be reduced to fortnightly for wet and dry season months for all ecological systems. Trapping for Cx. annulirostris monitoring could be reduced to fortnightly in all areas and seasons. Evaluation of programs can maximize staff efficiency and improve service delivery by reducing the need for unnecessary tasks
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