- 2
-
Travel vaccinations
Better Health — Australians travelling overseas, especially to developing countries, need to be vaccinated against a range of diseases. Illnesses may be caused by contaminated food or water, poor personal hygiene or infected insects. Anyone travelling overseas ...More…
-
Travel health - yellow fever vaccine
Better Health — Yellow fever is a serious viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes in parts of Africa and South America. Vaccination is a legal requirement for people travelling through infected areas. Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes in ...More…
-
Whooping cough
Better Health — Whooping cough (pertussis) is a serious, contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is particularly serious in young children. One in every 200 babies who contract the infection will die. Whooping cough can ...More…
-
Tuberculosis (TB)
Better Health — Tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon infectious disease in Victoria that typically affects the lungs but may infect any other organ of the body. TB can only be passed from person to person when someone with active TB of the lungs coughs or sneezes. ...More…
-
Q fever - Better Health Channel.
Better Health — Q fever is an infection with flu-like symptoms. It is transmitted from cattle, sheep and goats. It is a risk for people who work with these animals - for example, abattoir workers and meat inspectors. A vaccine is available to protect people who ...More…
-
Polio - immunisation
Better Health — Poliomyelitis (polio) is a serious disease, caused by a virus. It can be prevented with immunisation. All children and adults should receive the vaccine. If you are not immunised, you could contract polio if your food, water or hands are ...More…
-
Polio - Better Health Channel.
Better Health — Poliomyelitis (polio) is caused by a poliovirus that affects the digestive system and, in some cases, the nervous system. Symptoms vary from mild, flu-like symptoms to life-threatening paralysis and possibly death. If you are not immunised, you ...More…
-
Polio - symptoms in later years
Better Health — Symptoms of new weakness, joint and muscle pain and fatigue can occur years after an initial bout of poliomyelitis. These symptoms are known as 'late effects of polio' or 'post polio syndrome'. There is no cure for the late effects of ...More…
-
Hepatitis C
Better Health — Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that causes inflammation (swelling and pain) of the liver. It is commonly spread through sharing unsterile needles, syringes and other injecting drug equipment. There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis ...More…
-
Hepatitis B - Better Health Channel.
Better Health — Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and can lead to serious illness or death. It is spread through unsafe sex, sharing unsterile injecting or piercing equipment or other activities where blood or body fluids are ...More…
-
Hepatitis A - Better Health Channel.
Better Health — Hepatitis A (Hep A) is a viral disease that affects the liver. It is spread by direct contact or by touching items that have been handled by, and contaminated with faeces from, an infected person. These can include food, drinks and other objects. ...More…
-
Flu (influenza) - immunisation
Better Health — Influenza, or flu, is an epidemic disease that causes widespread illness every year. Influenza immunisation is recommended for people in known high-risk groups including everyone aged over 65, hospital patients and staff, some Kooris and Torres ...More…