Public Health

The West Moreton Public Health Unit aims to enhance the community’s health outcomes by offering public and environmental health services.

We aim to enhance the health of our communities by minimising the spread of disease and preventing recurring illnesses through our communicable disease control, environmental health, and epidemiological and immunisation services.

Our mission is to improve community health through close partnerships with various institutions, such as childcare centres, schools, medical facilities, hospitals, aged care facilities, laboratories, support accommodations, and disability services.

We partner with government bodies and agencies, such as West Moreton and Darling Downs Primary Health Network, Ipswich, Somerset, Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley councils, correctional centres, universities, and other Queensland Government departments.

Our team comprises public health physicians, nurses, epidemiologists, environmental health officers, data officers and business support staff.

Effective public health measures, such as contact tracing, are crucial in controlling the spread of contagious illnesses like COVID-19 and measles. The public health unit collaborates closely with other healthcare partners, including GPs and hospitals, to effectively contain the spread of diseases in our community.

We provide guidance and assistance in accordance with the regulations outlined in the Public Health Act of 2005 and Public Health Regulation 2018.

Following are helpful resources on prevalent illnesses, which have been grouped according to targeted audiences.

Public Health contact details

Phone: 07 3271 8744

Address: The Park – Centre for Mental Health, Public Health building, Orford Drive, Wacol 4076

Postal address: Locked Bag 500 Archerfield 4108

Residential aged care facilities

Gastro outbreaks and prevention

Acute respiratory illness (ARI) outbreaks and prevention

Including but not limited to influenza, COVID-19, RSV

Other illnesses

Supported accommodation and disability services
Childcare centres

Gastro outbreaks and prevention

Flu outbreaks and prevention (and other respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19)

Chickenpox

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Head lice

Additional resources

Australian Bat Lyssavirus

It is essential to be aware of the Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV), which can be transmitted from bats to humans and result in severe illness and even death.

Never touch a bat with your bare hands. If you come across a sick or injured bat, you should contact:

  • the RSPCA (phone 1300 ANIMAL)
  • Department of Environment and Science (1300 130 372)
  • local wildlife care such as Bat Conservation and Rescue Qld (0488 228 134).

If you experience a bat bite, scratch, or lick, it is essential to seek immediate medical attention from a GP or hospital to receive medical care. General and Hospital Practitioners must communicate with the Public Health Unit to acquire vaccines and immunoglobulin.

Our group of nurses and doctors specialising in communicable diseases works with healthcare professionals to assist in managing bat bites or scratches using a procedure known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This involves administering a rabies vaccine (with or without immunoglobulin) to a person before they show symptoms to prevent the disease.

Frequently asked questions

  • What happens if my dog or cat is exposed to a bat?  Contact your local veterinarian if a bat might have bitten or scratched your pet.
  • What if I get bat wee or poo in my eyes or mouth? While bat faeces, urine and blood do not pose an ABLV risk, you should immediately wash your hands (or other affected areas) and contact your Health Care Provider for advice if you have concerns.
  • What happens if I eat fruit that a bat has partially eaten?  There is no evidence to suggest ABLV could be contracted by eating fruit partially eaten by a bat. However, any fruit that any animal has partially eaten could be contaminated and should be thrown away.

Resources

 

Immunisation

At the West Moreton Public Health Unit, we coordinate and support the implementation of the National Immunisation Program for Queensland in the West Moreton Health area. We collaborate with various vaccine service providers such as primary health care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services, hospitals, correctional facilities, and local councils.

Immunisation is a crucial aspect of modern medicine and public health and saves millions of lives annually. Immunisation is a key responsibility of the healthcare sector and is highly effective in preventing severe and life-threatening infectious diseases.

Links to immunisation information:

Links to immunisation providers:

Additional resources for immunisation providers: