Barwon South West Public Health Unit

Resources

Culturally and linguistically Diverse Resources

Healthy Swimming

How to talk to your child about vaping

What is GAS and iGAS

Let's Get Active!

Multilanguage: https://youtu.be/h1X42vjFWrc
Arabic: https://youtu.be/0_nRqIapVXA
Dari: https://youtu.be/m-14UMkykWg
Karen: https://youtu.be/ZsjjlpaOutU
Karenni: https://youtu.be/PVDa-uxe2M0

COVID-19

Flu

Gastro

Antiviral Medications for COVID-19

How to stay well this winter

Removing most of the COVID restrictions

Flu Vaccine and Winter Booster

COVID 19 vaccine information for children, teens and parents or guardians

How to speak to kids about COVID 19 vaccines:

My vaccine experience

Back to school videos

Vaccination experience videos (parents)

Vaccination for children

Bushfires in Australia

How to stay safe from bushfires

What floods are

How to be safe before, during, and after floods

What is thunderstorm asthma

How to be ready for thunderstorm asthma

How Vaping Can Harm Your Health and Make You Dependent on Nicotine

Vaping and the Law in Australia

Pertussis - health alert and resources

Pertussis

Victoria is experiencing a significant surge in pertussis cases in 2024. Children aged 10-12 years are the most commonly affected age group, with many schools experiencing pertussis outbreaks.

Pertussis poses a significant risk to infants under the age of 6 months who are at greatest risk of severe disease, hospitalisation and death.

Clinicians should consider pertussis in all people (including infants, children and adults) presenting with compatible symptoms. A nasopharyngeal swab/aspirate for PCR is the preferred diagnostic test for pertussis in all ages.

For patients diagnosed with pertussis, clinicians should:

Follow guidance on antibiotic treatment in the latest editions of the Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic and the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Clinical Practice Guidelines
Provide prophylactic antibiotics for certain high-risk contacts, including the patient’s entire household if there is a child under 6 months of age or a woman in the last month of pregnancy living in the house
Provide school exclusion advice to parents of children with pertussis
Notify the Department of Health by completing an online notification form

Clinicians should also ensure that pregnant women and children are up to date with pertussis immunisations.

For more information, refer to the recent Health Advisory from the Department of Health.

GP Pertussis memo - June 2024

Mpox - health alert and resources

Mpox

There is an ongoing outbreak of mpox in Victoria and other Australian jurisdictions, mostly impacting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. This outbreak is caused by Clade IIb of the virus.

There is also a rapidly increasing mpox outbreak within central and eastern Africa caused by Clade Ib of the virus. This clade has not been identified in Australia to date.

Clinicians should consider and test for mpox in people presenting with compatible symptoms. All suspected and confirmed cases of mpox should be urgently notified to the Department of Health by calling 1300 651 160 (24/7).

Clinicians should recommend mpox vaccination to all eligible patients. Mpox vaccines can be ordered through Onelink. A list of vaccination providers in the Barwon South West region can be found on the BSWPHU website.

For more information about mpox, including clinical presentation, testing and vaccination, refer to the recent Health Alert from the Department of Health.