FRESH VACCINATION PUSH ACROSS PILBARA, KIMBERLEY AFTER WOODBROOK DIPHTHTERIA CASE
People across the Pilbara and Kimberley are being urged to get a diphtheria vaccination, after an outbreak at Woodbrook, near Roebourne-Ieramagadu. Pictured: Mawarnkarra Health Service in Ieramagadu.
A new diphtheria case linked to the Woodbrook area near Roebourne has prompted renewed warnings for people across the Pilbara to check their vaccinations, as Western Australia continues to battle an outbreak predominantly affecting Aboriginal communities.
At least 13 people have been identified as high-risk contacts following the Woodbrook case, with WA Health working alongside local Aboriginal health services on the response.
The case comes as diphtheria continues to circulate across the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields and Mid West, with recent cases also recorded in metropolitan Perth.
WA Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Huppatz said Aboriginal communities had been disproportionately affected by the outbreak.
“We've had an outbreak of diphtheria that has been mostly affecting the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid West and Goldfields regions, and within those it's been mostly affecting Aboriginal communities,” she said.
MORE THAN 19,000 NOW VACCINATED ACROSS WA
Dr Huppatz said around 19,000 people had been vaccinated through the response, involving WA Health, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, outreach clinics and pop-up vaccination teams.
Free booster vaccines are available to people living in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid West and Goldfields who have not received a diphtheria-containing vaccine in the past five years.
Aboriginal people living outside those regions are also eligible for a free booster if they have not been vaccinated in the past five years.
Mawarnkarra Health Service Dr Seema Basil said several positive cases had been identified at Woodbrook.
“We've seen a much larger number of the cutaneous, the skin infections, out at Woodbrook, although there has been a case of respiratory diphtheria,” she said.
“The big risk is that diphtheria is very contagious.”
Dr Basil said health workers were particularly conscious of the potential for transmission during large cultural gatherings, where people may be coming into close contact with someone carrying the infection.
Mawarnkarra has contacted its patients directly, sending SMS messages encouraging people who have visited Woodstock, or believe they may have symptoms, to attend the clinic.
RENEWED Environmental health concerns
The outbreak has also renewed attention on environmental health conditions in remote Aboriginal communities, such as inadequate and poorly maintained housing, nutrition and overcrowding concerns.
Diphtheria can affect the skin or throat, with skin sores that are slow to heal among the key symptoms authorities are asking people to watch for.
Dr Huppatz said authorities had not established that environmental conditions were responsible for the current outbreak, but said conditions in some remote Aboriginal communities remained a concern.
“The environmental health conditions, particularly in remote Aboriginal communities, whether or not they're actually the cause at this point in time is difficult to say,” she said.
“But the environmental health conditions are something that, as Chief Health Officer, I'm constantly advocating for.”
She said WA Health operates an Aboriginal environmental health program in regional communities but acknowledged more could be done.
DIPHTHERIA Symptoms to watch OUT for:
Dr Huppatz urged people to seek medical advice if they develop skin sores that are not healing properly or symptoms involving the throat.
A sore throat caused by diphtheria can range from mild to severe and may include a grey covering at the back of the throat, swollen glands and difficulty breathing.
“If people are gathering in community, they should be conscious of the signs and symptoms of diphtheria,” she said.
“If they feel they might have the infection, they should seek medical advice.”
People who believe they may have symptoms are also being advised to keep away from others while seeking medical attention.
Where and when to get vaccinated:
Dr Huppatz said vaccinations were available through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, WA Country Health Service clinics and other local providers.
She also outlined several additional vaccination activities across the Pilbara and Kimberley region in the next two weeks:
Onslow: vaccination teams at the Onslow town shops from Wednesday to Friday this week.
Pilbara: additional vaccination is being delivered through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and WA Country Health Service clinics, along with a surge vaccination team working with Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service and local staff around upcoming community events.
Mawarnkarra Health Service – Roebourne and Karratha Shopping Centre Clinic: Open Monday to Friday. People can walk in without an appointment for a vaccination check or booster if eligible.
Karratha Health Campus – 62 Balmoral Rd, Pegs Creek
People who are not Mawarnkarra patients are encouraged to attend Population Health at Karratha Health Campus for vaccination advice and access.Halls Creek: Healthy Skin Week vaccination activity is running Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week, including outreach around the Garden area, Nicholson Block and Red Hill.
Derby region: outreach vaccination is taking place this week, including Looma Community.
Balgo: pop-up clinic on September 22.
Billiluna: pop-up clinic on September 23.
Mulan: pop-up clinic on September 24.
Halls Creek and Warmun areas: targeted vaccination activity is planned between September 28 and October 9, with local details to be announced.
Dr Huppatz said people unsure of their vaccination status could check My Health Record or ask their Aboriginal Medical Service, GP or community health provider.
She said vaccination remained the best protection against severe diphtheria as transmission continued across regional WA.