News

The Australian Government has released its new National Immunisation Strategy to guide Australia’s fight against vaccine-preventable diseases over the next 5 years.

Be aware this winter of the effects of poor indoor air quality, and take simple steps to improve the quality of air in your home.

From pandemic preparedness to climate resilience, the One Health Symposium will advance cross-sector collaboration on human, animal, plant and environmental health.

Flu season has begun. While flu cases are elevated, they remain lower than flu cases at the same time in previous years. There is no cause for concern. We track data for the flu and 69 other diseases to help us understand, predict and prepare for disease threats so we can respond if needed.

We’re presenting at the Public Health Association of Australia 2025 Communicable Disease and Immunisation Conference (CDIC) in Adelaide. Join us later this month to learn more about communicable disease management and surveillance from experts around Australia.

As floodwaters recede in New South Wales, look after yourself – both physically and emotionally. Floods increase the risk of infections, mosquito-borne illnesses, and food and water contamination. Finding medicines can be harder, and the mental health toll, significant. Support is available.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – or MERS – is a rare but severe disease that causes difficulty in breathing, and in extreme cases, death. It is spread from camels, their products or infected people to other people.

The first case of mpox clade Ib in Australia is a timely reminder to at-risk population groups to get vaccinated. The risk of community transmission from this case is low. However, the Australian Government is monitoring the situation.

We’re teaming up with the CSIRO to host the fifth webinar in the One Health Wonders series. Join us on 13 May 2025 to learn about bats in our changing environment.

Let’s unpick some of the technical language around disease – explaining the difference between endemic, epidemic and pandemic.

All Australians should be aware of the danger of measles to people of all ages and what steps you can take to protect you and your loved ones.

Social gatherings and travel can contribute to the spread of disease during holiday times. Get informed and reduce your risk of infectious illness.

The 2024 Annual Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report is now available. This is the first national annual reporting of COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other acute respiratory infections in Australia.

Read a statement from the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer Professor Anthony Lawler about measles in Australia.

Health risks in the aftermath of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Queensland and New South Wales remain serious. These include infections, difficulty getting medicines, contaminated food or water, and mosquito-borne illnesses. Take care of yourself and loved ones. Support is available.

Protect your health and the people around you during the Cyclone Alfred emergency. Plan ahead and take simple steps to prepare.

With recent increases in Japanese encephalitis virus infections, we urge Australians to be aware of their risk and take steps to protect themselves.

Whooping cough is circulating in the community, with high numbers of infections being diagnosed across Australia. Vaccination is the best protection.

We’re teaming up with the CSIRO to host a third webinar in the One Health Wonders series. Join us on 19 February 2025 to learn about arboviruses in a changing environment.

Thanks to highly effective vaccination and surveillance programs, measles was eliminated from Australia. But this extremely infectious virus can still enter the country via international travel and spread to people who are not protected. When travelling abroad don’t let measles return home with you.

We are monitoring reports of increases in respiratory illnesses, particularly hMPV, in the northern hemisphere, including China. At this stage, current international trends in respiratory virus activity do not present an increased risk to Australia.

The risk of mosquito-borne illness rises in summer – but simple steps to fend off mosquitoes can protect you from these harmful diseases.

Whooping cough cases have been on the rise across Australia. Read a statement from the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Anthony Lawler, and Acting Head of the Interim Australian Centre for Disease Control, Genevieve Quilty.

Summer is here! It’s time to dust off the barbecue, get those swimmers on, and head to the nearest swimming spot! But don’t forget that our summers also have a dangerous side, so it’s important to keep yourself and others safe.

The HIV pandemic is not over, but we are getting closer to eliminating HIV transmission in Australia. On World AIDS Day we can reflect on how far we have come.