Vic Covid fortnightly update: "In Victoria, COVID-19, influenza & RSV are at high levels of activity." Covid looks like a bit of a plateau which would be good but we have such a limited view of the real picture now. Anecdotally there is a lot of pressure on the system. Flu & RSV also big problems.

Vic Covid update: "In Victoria, COVID-19 activity is at high levels, with influenza and RSV activity continuing to increase. Indicators of activity have continued to increase for COVID-19, influenza and RSV in this reporting period" Buckle up Mask Up* Ventilate HEPAs on high *N95

Vic Covid update: Buckle up folks, it's not looking good. We are back on an upward trajectory, coupled with flu and RSV surging as well.

Vic Covid update: "In Victoria, activity of RSV, influenza and COVID-19 are increasing but remain at low levels. Meanwhile, COVID-19 activity has remained at low levels with increases in recent weeks." Trending back up again after period of relatively low activity. health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...

Vic CHO alert: more measles "A new measles case has been reported in Victoria in a returned traveller who visited Pakistan. There is currently an increased risk of measles in greater Melbourne." #MeaslesIsAirborne Exposure sites: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic fortnightly Covid update: "In Victoria, COVID-19 and influenza are at low levels of activity, whilst RSV activity is increasing but remains at low levels." Good time to get that important dental work done. Full Vic respiratory report available here: health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...

Vic Covid update: Vic has moved to a Respiratory Surveillance report to include flu and RSV. This is a welcome addition with more information but they have deleted the consistent metric of Covid hospitalisations. Very disappointing Vic gov. Full report here: health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...

TBH this is basically the whole thing. I could probably have just posted this one image and everyone who's paying attention would understand. Pregnant nurses were tested while wearing a spirometry mask, with or without a small piece of N95 material taped over the hole. The...tiny...little...hole.

Unfortunately, none of the authors, reviewers, funders, ethics board, editors or citing authors appear to have bothered to understand the core concepts, so it has zero real-world relevance. Preprint: osf.io/preprints/me... H/T Dr. Ruzycki, an aerosol expert who first called this out.

Vic CHO alert: measles "A new locally-acquired measles case has been identified in Victoria. This case has no history of overseas travel or links to recent measles cases, and most likely acquired their infection in the Melbourne area." Exposure sites: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic CHO alert: measles "A new measles case has been identified interstate who has been infectious at multiple locations around Melbourne. The case had attended a previously listed exposure site in Victoria." Measles is airborne. Full details & exposure sites: www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic Covid fortnightly update: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 49 (week ending 18 March), compared to 63 last week." Very welcome period of relatively low cases reaching hospital. Vic Covid test positivity continuing to stay low.

Vic avian flu update: "Diagnostic tests done at CSIRO’s Aust Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong confirmed high pathogenicity strain of H7N8. This is a new outbreak & not related to the 2024 outbreaks in Vic, NSW & ACT which were successfully eradicated" agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/...

How we look out for those who are struggling is a measure of society. We need to do far more to recognise, research & stop Long Covid & support those suffering from it. Today is an important day to remind us that we are all only one infection away from potentially suffering debilitating Long Covid.

Vic CHO alert: MEASLES "Five further measles cases have been identified in Victoria. Two of these cases are locally acquired and three cases acquired their infection overseas in Bali. These cases have been infectious at multiple locations around Melbourne" Details: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic Covid update "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has increased this week. The 7-day average is 80 (week ending 04 March), compared to 75 last week." Vic Covid hospitalisations - it appears that we are still in a trough.

Vic CHO alert: Japanese encephalitis in Victoria "A second confirmed human case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) has been identified in a resident of northern Victoria, with likely exposure in the Riverina region of New South Wales on the Murray River." Details: www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic CHO alert: MEASLES "An outbreak of measles has been identified in Vic after two new cases were reported who likely acquired their infection in metropolitan Melbourne. These cases have had no history of overseas travel or known contact" More details: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic bird flu update "H7 avian influenza (bird flu) is confirmed at a fourth poultry property in northern Victoria near Euroa. All infected properties are within the restricted area and under quarantine." Note this is a different strain to HPAI overseas. Details agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/...

Vic Covid fortnightly update: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has remained stable this week. The 7-day average is 68 (week ending 18 February), compared to 67 last week." We seem to be holding in a trough for now. Let's hope it lasts for a while. But sadly #CovidIsNotOver Stay safe.

Vic CHO alert: measles (again) "A new case of measles has been reported in Victoria. This is in addition to the measles case reported on 7 February 2025." Full details of exposure sites: www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic CHO advisory: "Victorians planning overseas travel should ensure their routine vaccinations are up to date. Any returned traveller who develops illness after returning home (such as a fever, new rash or diarrhoea) should seek medical advice." health.vic.gov.au/health-advis...

"Agriculture Victoria has confirmed the presence of avian influenza (high pathogenicity H7N8) at a poultry property in northern Victoria, which has now been placed into quarantine. ...different from the strains that impacted Vic poultry farms during 2024." agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/media-...

Vic Covid update "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 76 (week ending 04 February), compared to 116 last week." Definitely numbers are heading in the right direction. Let's hope for a long and low trough. Test positivity falling as well.

Vic CHO alert: measles "A new case of measles has been reported in Victoria with the total number of cases linked to travel in Vietnam since December 2024 now standing at eight. Growing outbreaks continue to be reported in Vietnam and Thailand." Exposure sites: www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic Covid update: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 122 (week ending 21 January), compared to 184 last week." Hospitalisations, positivity rate and reported cases continued trending lower.

Vic DH restarted Covid reporting: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has increased this week. The 7-day average is 191 (week ending 07 January), compared to 165 last week." Deaths are no longer reported-now only avail thru ABS data. Wastewater was switched off June 2024. Happy new year.

Vic CHO alert: Buruli Ulcer is spreading "Patients usually develop a painless lump or wound which can initially be mistaken for an insect bite. Over time the lesion can slowly progress to develop into a destructive skin ulcer which is known as Buruli ulcer." www.health.vic.gov.au/health-advis...

Vic Covid update: (A week early due to break & next update will be 10Jan25) "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 151 (week ending 17 December), compared to 160 last week." Numbers fairly stable but hold your beer with xmas travel starting.

Vic CHO alert: MEASLES "A new case of measles has been reported in Queensland, involving a returned overseas traveller who transited through Melbourne Airport whilst infectious. This is in addition to a Victorian case reported in early December 2024" More details: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic Covid update: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 160 (week ending 10 December), compared to 196 last week." Good to see a drop in hospital numbers & positivity rate but don't let your guard down - still significantly high. Stay safe.

Vic CHO Alert: MEASLES warning "A new case of measles has been reported in Victoria in a returned overseas traveller. See the full alert for exposure site details of this case." Full details here: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Vic CHO Alert: "Victoria is currently experiencing increased COVID-19 infections in the community, which is resulting in an increase of people being hospitalised with COVID-19." www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

Chatting with teacher friend: Me: You know we're in a new Covid wave, right? Friend: No but there's so much gastro at school. One parent dropped their kid off who was vomiting. The teacher got sick & also missed her mum's 80th birthday. What are they thinking? Me: They're not.

As AUS enters a new wave (you know, another of those xmas presents from Prof Kelly), just reminding people that this will be the 11th Covid wave in AUS, regardless of what media (if any) reports. Ok I know wave 1 looks insignificant, but that's only because of the overwhelming waves ever since.

PSA ALERT: major metro hospital in Melbourne triggered escalation of COVID settings back to highest level today. Outbreaks of Covid in wards & community led to upgrade of mask requirements. Also high levels of gastro. Masks back on again but only after infecting staff & patients. Complete PH failure

Vic Covid update: After 1 month hiatus in reporting there's no surprise that numbers are going up, reflecting recent anecdata. "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has increased this week. The 7-day average is 173 (week ending 12 November), compared to 112 last week."

Spending time in the bush can be cathartic and clears the news cycle from your head. Loved seeing this little fellow today. Totally oblivious to the US election disaster.

This is really distressing to watch but if you've never heard a baby try to breathe with whooping cough then you should listen. Be warned. There is a vaccine for whooping cough (pertussis), so if you can, please access it.

Covid is definitely not over. Govts can hide the data as much as they like but the actuaries will always find the facts. And it is not good news for anyone.

The price of austerity measures in health care.👇 Ultimately someone pays and most often it's the patients. HCWs also end up suffering increased/unsafe workloads.

Despite being >60yrs of age, I still like to run long trails. I can only do this if I stay healthy. Saturday I ran the 100km Great Ocean Trail Ultra. But I still wore a mask riding the bus back to the start the next day. Nothing wrong with being the only MaskFreak if it helps keep me fit & healthy.

"The future of the Australian Centre for Disease Control is under a cloud after its interim head, chief medical officer Paul Kelly, retired and with no funding allocated to deliver it." Source: canberratimes.com.au/story/880020...

In case you missed it, Mpox numbers are steadily growing in Vic. Still only Clade IIb, but over 300 cases since April and now including women. More details: www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...

PSA aimed at Vic HCWs but important health alert: •Mpox cases are continuing to increase in Melbourne and regional Victoria. •Have a low threshold for testing sexually active people with any symptoms. •Promote vaccination in all eligible people at risk of mpox infection.

Early days but.... Just plugged my Aranet4 into Bluesky to compare with the air quality over on twitter and wow, so much cleaner air over here.

Just finding the start button on bsky. Found something else in the garden (no, not on the toilet seat for any Slim Newton fans).