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
Spatial Simulation Modelling Of Containment Strategies For Pandemic Influenza
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,927.00
Summary
This research will develop a spatial simulation model to predict the spread of pandemic influenza within Australia. The resulting software program will be readily usable by disease managers, both during and prior to an outbreak, to predict the effect of various containment measures on the size, rate and location of disease spread, through a city, state or the nation. Deployed in _real time� after an outbreak has started in Australia, it will be used to predict infection spread and the containmen ....This research will develop a spatial simulation model to predict the spread of pandemic influenza within Australia. The resulting software program will be readily usable by disease managers, both during and prior to an outbreak, to predict the effect of various containment measures on the size, rate and location of disease spread, through a city, state or the nation. Deployed in _real time� after an outbreak has started in Australia, it will be used to predict infection spread and the containment effect of a range of interventions. The model would use data obtained during initial stages of the outbreak to refine the model, so allowing accuracy in daily spread prediction; similar use of spatial models occurred during the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the UK. In a pre-pandemic period the simulation model will be available to predict the containment effect of a range of response measures, such as travel restrictions, workplace and school closures, vaccination and antiviral usage. Specifically, this project will apply the simulation model to determine optimal use of limited resources such as the _when and where� targeting of antiviral drugs and initial supplies of vaccine.Read moreRead less
Assessment Of Interventions For Controlling Pandemic Influenza And Determining Data Needs To Inform These Assessments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$183,040.00
Summary
The aim of this study is to help us prepare for a pandemic of influenza by comparing how effective the various available control strategies are at reducing transmission of the disease. The available control interventions include: reducing the number of close contacts we make with others, isolating cases after they are diagnosed, closing schools, quarantining households, quarantining individuals who are known to have been exposed to a case, and using antiviral drugs treat and protect people at ri ....The aim of this study is to help us prepare for a pandemic of influenza by comparing how effective the various available control strategies are at reducing transmission of the disease. The available control interventions include: reducing the number of close contacts we make with others, isolating cases after they are diagnosed, closing schools, quarantining households, quarantining individuals who are known to have been exposed to a case, and using antiviral drugs treat and protect people at risk of being infected. We will compare these control measures by taking due account of the ability and resources available for these interventions, and with regard to the need to maintain essential services. The comparisons will be made using mathematical models that describe the transmission of the infection. All available data and advice from experts will be used to ensure that realistic models are used for the comparisons. We will also use the models to determine the best use of the limited antiviral drugs available, until a vaccine becomes available. We will consider how the control strategy should be changed if a strain develops that is resistant to the antiviral drugs. In addition, we will determine what data need to be collected during the early stages of a pandemic to help us to determine the best use of the antiviral drugs, the best use of a new vaccine and to check on the development of resistance to the antiviral drugs.Read moreRead less
Modelling The Biology And Transmission Of Influenza Virus - Learning From 1918-19 And Other Outbreaks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$114,222.00
Summary
In preparing for a future pandemic of influenza, it is important to learn as much as possible from what happened in the past, particularly from the devastating pandemic of 1918-19. This project will collate detailed information about the spread of influenza in past outbreaks and create a publicly accessible data-base. Mathematical methods will be used to analyse historic and contemporary data, so as to provide better understanding of the spread of influenza, and of the likely effects of social a ....In preparing for a future pandemic of influenza, it is important to learn as much as possible from what happened in the past, particularly from the devastating pandemic of 1918-19. This project will collate detailed information about the spread of influenza in past outbreaks and create a publicly accessible data-base. Mathematical methods will be used to analyse historic and contemporary data, so as to provide better understanding of the spread of influenza, and of the likely effects of social and medical measures for its control. An important theme of the project is to consolidate our knowledge about how past exposure to non-pandemic influenza could provide short-lived protection against any new pandemic, and to explore the implications of this for prevention today. Another theme is to explore the severity of influenza during pandemics, and to identify social and medical factors that might reduce the dose of virus transmitted, or otherwise reduce the severity of infection. The insights from the modeling will also help to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding about the basic biology of influenza, stimulate new research to fill those gaps, and thus offer the prospect of more effective vaccines and treatments for the future control of influenza.Read moreRead less
Modelling The Economics Of The Australian Health Care System For Policy Analysis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,500,000.00
Summary
The program will build a suite of economic models capable of providing timely relevant analysis of almost any major health policy option or issue, providing expertise in government and academia to use the kind of sophisticated quantitative tools of analysis common in sectors of the economy of an equivalent size to health. Through a PhD and postdoctoral program, it will increase capacity in quantitative health economics in Australia to answer key questions in health services, health promotion and ....The program will build a suite of economic models capable of providing timely relevant analysis of almost any major health policy option or issue, providing expertise in government and academia to use the kind of sophisticated quantitative tools of analysis common in sectors of the economy of an equivalent size to health. Through a PhD and postdoctoral program, it will increase capacity in quantitative health economics in Australia to answer key questions in health services, health promotion and illness prevention, developed with partners in government, clinicians and industry.Read moreRead less
Risk Of Brain Cancer From Exposure To Radiofrequency Fields In Childhood And Adolescence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$708,426.00
Summary
Mobile phone use is increasing in Australia, especially among children and young adults. This study is the Australian arm of an international multi-centre study that will investigate exposure to radiofrequency radiation from mobile phone use during childhood and adolescence and later onset of brain tumours in people between the ages of 10 and 24 years. There is considerable community concern and scientific interest about possible health effects from mobile phone exposure in young people and this ....Mobile phone use is increasing in Australia, especially among children and young adults. This study is the Australian arm of an international multi-centre study that will investigate exposure to radiofrequency radiation from mobile phone use during childhood and adolescence and later onset of brain tumours in people between the ages of 10 and 24 years. There is considerable community concern and scientific interest about possible health effects from mobile phone exposure in young people and this multi-centre study will provide important information about such cancer risks.Read moreRead less
Surveillance And Analysis Of Avian Influenza Viruses In Wild Birds In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,237.00
Summary
Birds are commonly infected with bird flu viruses but most of these viruses do not cause disease. However, certain types of bird flu viruses, such as the H5N1 strain, can cause severe illness and death in 100% of infected birds. There is currently an epidemic of H5N1 bird flu occurring in Asia. Occasionally humans become infected by bird to human transmission and since 2003, 130+ people have been infected with H5N1 resulting in 60+ deaths. There are 3 ways in which dangerous strains of the virus ....Birds are commonly infected with bird flu viruses but most of these viruses do not cause disease. However, certain types of bird flu viruses, such as the H5N1 strain, can cause severe illness and death in 100% of infected birds. There is currently an epidemic of H5N1 bird flu occurring in Asia. Occasionally humans become infected by bird to human transmission and since 2003, 130+ people have been infected with H5N1 resulting in 60+ deaths. There are 3 ways in which dangerous strains of the virus may be brought to Australia by; infected people, domestic birds and migratory wading birds. In order to monitor the import of these viruses by migratory birds we will catch and take samples from large numbers of these birds in important areas where they congregate close to humans and poultry farms. We will identify what types of bird flu viruses these birds are carrying and if the viruses are capable of causing disease in birds and humans. We will also see if they can be treated by the influenza drugs that we currently have and we will study these viruses to find new drug targets. These viruses are commonest in ducks. Migratory wading birds and local ducks live in the same habitats so there is the chance that the wading birds and ducks could pass the viruses to each other. There is an additional concern that non-disease causing viruses could mutate in ducks and become pathogenic and pass from bird to bird or even human to human transmission which could cause a major human epidemic of bird flu in Australia. So we will also take samples from local ducks that occur in the same areas as the wading birds and test them for viruses as well. Our results will show what kinds of viruses are being carried by wading birds and ducks and if these viruses are a danger to people and poultry. We can then manage important areas so that humans and poultry do not come into contact with these viruses.Read moreRead less