COVID-19 in Australia
As the cases begin to build up – but are still pretty low with limited community spread having been detected – now is a good time to start watching where Read More …
Tag: epidemiology
An early look at influenza in the US highlights that the south does not predict the north
Influenza (flu) hit Australia earlier in 2019 than it had for many years. It reached a very high peak of cases and the flu season lasted for longer than usual. Read More …
How many common cold viruses in one place, in one season?
I was recently asked how many common cold viruses are among us at a given time? The short answer is – dozens! In the past, I’ve written a few reviews (for Read More …
Flu is giving Australia a breather….
August is the traditional Australian peak influenza (flu) month. The peak can move around a bit but it usually flu virus party time, followed in size by September. We’re two-thirds of Read More …
Minding the gap: looking at numbers early in an outbreak
The second Ebola virus disease for 2018 continues to unfold in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nearly two weeks have passed since the official announcement of the outbreak by the Read More …
Mapping Ebola in the hobbyist zone…
One of the most important parts of an early understanding of the risks attached to an infectious disease outbreak is knowing where it is. Which country? What part of the Read More …
New Ebola virus disease case confirmed in a third DRC health zone
UPDATE #1 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health (MOH) today announced that 1 of 2 suspected EVD cases in the Wangata Health Zone has tested positive for Read More …
SNAPDATE: Ebola virus numbers
Ebola virus disease (EVD) case numbers are very mobile at this stage. But working with what we have, we can see from the graph below that there has been a Read More …
Ebola numbers rise a little…
According to a new Situation Report from the World Health Organisation,[6] the case numbers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo outbreak are now…. Total suspected+probable+confirmed: 39 This includes: 2 Read More …
Is increased testing at the root of Australia’s biggest ever first quarter of Flu cases…?
I’ve seen some media reporting an “early start to the flu season”. Is this true? The short answer is – I don’t know. Let’s explore why I can’t answer my Read More …
Flu numbers from the US…Peaky McPeakFace
This year’s annual influenza (flu) H3N2 epidemic in the United States (US) has peaked. It’s been a big season in the US and the United Kingdom and in Canada, as it was Read More …
Flu may not be peaking even if it looks like it is right now…and here’s why
The United State’s (US) influenza (Flu) season looks like it has peaked according to the latest Flu report.[1] And perhaps it has. But the graphs are only as solid as Read More …
Where is H7N9 in 2018?
I’ve been watching avian influenza A(H7N9) virus cases in humans since they popped onto the radar in 2013 (it was among my first blogs, “H7N9 deaths” [1]). So I’m confident when Read More …
A look at public reporting of Flu in Australia…
I’ve spent a bit more time in Flu reports this year than past years so I thought I might compare the data that the public can see. There are no Read More …
Queensland Flu season gives us the cold shoulder…
The latest Flu data, fresh from the excellent Epidemiology Research Unit, Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Health, shows the usual post-winter spike (shoulder) in Flu cases and the subsequent plunge thanks Read More …