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BIOSECURITY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

The following five research areas capture most of NCEPH's current work in this theme.

1. Epidemiology of Biosecurity
The emergence of SARS and the potential threat to humans from avian influenza has motivated us to work on preparedness for the emergence of newly-emerged infectious diseases, the emergence of resistant strains of endemic infectious diseases and other epidemiological aspects of biosecurity.

2. Quantitative Infectious Disease Epidemiology
We develop new methods of infectious disease epidemiology that account for the transmission of infectious diseases, including the use of mathematical transmission models, analyses of infectious disease data, design of vaccine trials and estimation of vaccine efficacy. We apply these methods to emerging and vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.

3. Regional Infectious Diseases
This work studies the control and management IDs in the Asia-Pacific region, which also benefits Australia because IDs spread without regard for regional borders. Our work includes studies of tuberculosis in Timor Leste and Indonesia that assess lung function and therapies.

4. Foodborne Diseases
Expanding food distribution networks increase the need to safeguard our food supply by a better understanding of predictors and sources of foodborne diseases. Our current work is determining the burden of gastroenteritis in Australia and associations between foodborne disease and environmental variables.

5. Capacity Development for Infectious Disease Control in Australia and the Region
We continue to developed capacity for infectious disease control in Australia and increasingly in countries of the Asia-Pacific region for the mutual benefit of the region. This work focuses on health systems, including improved surveillance and enhancing capacity in remote areas.