The Australian Centre for Disease Control

🛫 Around this time every year lots of people travel to the Middle East to observe Hajj.  If you’re planning to travel to this area, it’s important to be aware of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).  🚑 MERS is a serious disease with no available vaccines. It is rare but can be deadly for those who become ill with it. But there are ways you can help protect yourself and prevent the spread. 🛡️ 🔗 Find detailed information and advice about MERS at https://lnkd.in/gptpg9J2.

New options for influenza immunisation are now available in Australia. 🚑 Children aged 5 and under are particularly vulnerable to serious illness and hospitalisation from the flu, yet in 2025, just 1 in 3 received their annual flu vaccine. There are now two ways to help protect them – the flu shot and the new nasal spray. Both are designed to keep children safe and healthy this flu season. The nasal spray is approved for children aged 2 to 17 and is available for purchase, or at no cost through state programs in: ✅ NSW & SA for 2 to 4 year olds ✅ QLD for 2 to 5 year olds ✅ WA for 2 to 11 year olds Whether kids get the needle or the spray, both options are safe and effective. The annual flu shot is free for children aged 6 months to under 5 years and is recommended each year for everyone 6 months and older. 🔗 Help keep your community safe this flu season, learn more at https://lnkd.in/eVNC-7MZ. #AustralianCDC #FluVaccine #HealthyKids #Influenza

Mould in your home isn’t just an eyesore – it can affect the quality of the air indoors and your family’s health. Wiping away visible mould isn’t enough. While the surface might look clean, microscopic mould spores can linger in the air and on surfaces, making mould more likely to return if the root cause isn’t fixed. Next time you spot mould, remember to address the root cause first and stop spores in their tracks: 😷 Ensure good ventilation and wear protective gear like an N95 or P2 respirator when cleaning. ✨ Clean mould-prone surfaces regularly with diluted vinegar or detergent. 🦠 After cleaning, dry all surfaces thoroughly to prevent regrowth. 🫧 Scrub at least 50 cm around affected areas with a microfibre cloth, and avoid dry brushes to stop spores from spreading. 💧 Address the underlying cause to keep mould from returning – like leaks, condensation, or poor ventilation. 🔬 When in doubt or for tough infestations, consider reaching out to a professional for help. 🔗 Explore more practical advice to keep your home safe from mould this winter at https://lnkd.in/gJihNSC9. #AustralianCDC #WinterWellness #SpotMouldStopSpores #MouldAwareness

🤔 Wondering how the flu vaccine works? It doesn’t give you the flu – it trains your immune system. The vaccine contains inactivated (killed) virus pieces or proteins that can’t cause infection. 🥊 Your body learns to recognise these and builds antibodies to fight them. If you’re exposed later, your immune system can respond faster and reduce your risk of serious illness. It might not stop you catching the flu entirely, but it can make illness milder and lower the risk of complications. 💪 Protect yourself and the people around you – talk to your healthcare professional about getting your flu shot this season. 🔗 Learn more about seasonal flu at https://lnkd.in/gup4-GSR. #AustralianCDC #FluVaccine #Influenza #FluSeason #Immunisation #PublicHealth

Did you know the flu vaccine changes every year? 🦠 Flu viruses are constantly mutating, and the strains that dominate can shift from one season to the next. This makes it more difficult for our immune system to recognise new strains and fight the virus. 🧑🔬 To stay ahead, scientists track what’s circulating globally, then update the vaccine to match the most likely strains – so your protection stays as strong as possible. It might not stop you catching the flu entirely, but it can make illness milder and lower the risk of complications. 💪 That’s why getting your annual flu shot is so important – it helps protect you and the people around you from the latest flu strain. It’s recommended for all people aged 6 months or older. Talk to your healthcare professional about getting vaccinated this flu season or find a vaccination clinic near you with healthdirect’s service finder: https://lnkd.in/dfFKc6V #AustralianCDC #PublicHealth #FluVaccine #Influenza #FluSeason

Breathe easy indoors this winter! 🏠❄️ There’s nothing like staying cozy inside on a cold day, but shutting windows and doors to keep out the chill can allow germs and pollutants to build up inside. If someone in your household gets sick, poor air circulation can make it easier for everyone to catch it – even your favourite cuppa can’t protect you! Keep your air fresh and your family healthy this winter: 🪟 Open windows and doors when the outside air is clean to let in fresh air. 🌀 Use HEPA filters to reduce airborne particles or germs and keep your indoor air cleaner. 🔥 If possible, avoid wood heaters – choose cleaner heating options to reduce indoor pollution. 💧 Control moisture – ventilate rooms, dry damp areas, and use exhaust fans when cooking or showering to prevent mould and mildew. 😷 If someone in your home is unwell, limit close contact and consider wearing a mask. Let’s keep our homes healthy this winter. Small changes can make a big difference for you and your family. Discover more ways to improve indoor air quality at https://ow.ly/NNLu50YQSQ7 #AustralianCDC #WinterWellness #HealthyHomes #CleanAir #IndoorAirQuality

Be at the forefront of Australia’s health security future. 📢 We’re recruiting high-performing leaders to help shape Australia’s national prevention, preparedness and response approaches to emerging health threats. We are currently seeking applications for two leadership roles: 🦠🛡️🧑🔬 Director Pandemic Preparedness and Biosecurity 🌳🐾🧑💼 Director One Health These roles offer an opportunity to influence national policy, build trusted cross‑sector partnerships, and lead multidisciplinary teams working across complex, high‑impact health systems. They will: ✅ drive national leadership across One Health, pandemic preparedness and biosecurity ✅ shape strategy and policy in a rapidly evolving global health landscape ✅ strengthen Australia’s readiness for emerging zoonotic, vector‑borne and pandemic threats ✅ work at the intersection of science, policy, governance and systems‑thinking ✅ lead and inspire expert teams delivering work of national significance If you are a strategic and collaborative leader who is passionate about protecting population health – or you know someone who is – we'd love to hear from you. 🗓️ Applications close 10 May at 11:30pm AEST. 👉 Share with your networks or apply now at https://lnkd.in/eKxwv_7m. #AustralianCDC #JobOpportunity #PublicHealth #OneHealth #PandemicPreparednessAndBiosecurity

💡 Did you know Australia’s health system (from hospitals to the supply chains that support them) accounted for 5.44% of our total greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2022? That’s why we’re proud to share our comprehensive review of interventions to reduce health system emissions by reducing waste and resource use. This review is an important part of our National Health and Climate Strategy, which sets out a vision for achieving a sustainable, high-quality, net zero health system by 2050. It outlines practical changes that can help our health system reduce, reuse, and recycle more, including: 📱 switching to electronic health records 🚫 eliminating rarely used single-use items from surgical packs ♻️ phasing out non-medical device single-use plastics 🧤 using gloves only when clinically necessary 🏥 choosing reusable PPE, surgical textiles, instruments, and non-invasive devices 🪑 refurbishing medical instruments and furniture 🔄 establishing recycling streams and recycling surgical blue wrap 👩⚕️ training staff for better waste segregation. Together, we’re making our health system greener and healthier for everyone. Explore our full findings at https://lnkd.in/ejZdUQa2. #AustralianCDC #NationalHealthAndClimateStrategy #PublicHealth #GreenHealthcare #NetZero2050

💉 Why get the flu vaccine if you can still get the flu? Think of your flu shot as a coach for your immune system! 🏅 🛡️👨⚕️ It won’t always keep the virus from sneaking onto the field, but it helps your defenders (antibodies) tackle the flu faster. That means you’re less likely to get seriously sick or die, and you’ll bounce back much more quickly. 🤝 It may also reduce how much virus you carry and how long you’re sick, which can help lower the chance of passing flu on to others. So, it’s a win for your teammates, coworkers, and family too! Score one for self-care and better health! 🧬🙌 Protect yourself from serious illness this flu season. Find a vaccination clinic near you with healthdirect’s service finder: https://lnkd.in/dfFKc6V #AustralianCDC #FluFacts #TeamImmunity #Vaccination #Influenza

📢 Eligibility for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination has been expanded under the National Immunisation Program: https://lnkd.in/ePJiC6Mc. From 15 May, it will be available and free for: 🧓 Australians aged 75 or older (newly eligible!) 🌏 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 60 or older (newly eligible!) 🤰 pregnant women (already eligible). This announcement couldn’t have come at a better time, with RSV cases on the rise since January. This means the 2026 RSV season has begun – and it’s time to check in with your patients about their eligibility for RSV immunisations. It’s especially important to touch base with your high-risk patients, including: 🍼 infants 🧒 children aged 9 years or younger 🧓 adults aged 75 years or older. These groups have already accounted for more than 14,000 of the 23,590 RSV confirmed cases – that's more than 60% of all cases reported in 2026. 💉 Vaccination is the best protection against RSV. Stay informed about RSV. Find clinical guidance and immunisation advice at https://lnkd.in/gdFbVv4. 🔍 Explore more respiratory illness trends in the latest Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report at https://lnkd.in/eF2DNMEw. #AustralianCDC #RespiratorySyncytialVirus #RSV #PublicHealth #Vaccines #Immunisation