We'll start this edition with an update on the spread and effects of the swine flu pandemic, as well as the latest news on the research into an effective vaccine.
Last week was Carers Week (18 - 24 October) and Carers Australia coordinated a series of events around Australia under the theme of "Anyone, Anytime Across Australia" reflecting the unexpected and indiscriminate nature of the caring role irrespective of where you live.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has published a new report on breast cancer that shows that more women are being diagnosed with the disease than ever before, but that death rates continue to fall. And the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre recently launched a new CD for the male partners of women with early breast cancer.
And finally, Griffith University is undertaking a nationwide survey of the online behaviour of Australian general practitioners, and its implications for the delivery of health care in the 21st century.
Swine flu update
As of 26 October, Australia had 37,039 confirmed cases of swine flu (or Pandemic (H1N1) 2009). The total number of Australian deaths associated with swine flu now stands at 186: 51 in NSW, 41 in Queensland, 28 in South Australia, 27 in Western Australia, 24 in Victoria, 7 in Tasmania, 6 in the Northern Territory, and 2 in the Australian Capital Territory.
The reporting of current hospitalisations has been replaced by the weekly reporting of new hospitalisations because of changes to the way in which States and Territories are reporting. There have been 11 new hospitalisations throughout Australia over the past week, including one into an intensive care unit. Daily updates are provided through the Department of Health and Ageing's healthemergency website.
The Department also has some useful tips for protecting yourself and others.
HealthInsite has a topic page on swine flu (also known as swine influenza, the Influenza A (H1N1 Virus), and Pandemic (H1N1) 2009). For other useful information about swine flu, please refer to our May newsletter.
As reported in the September newsletter, the Therapeutic Goods Administration registered the swine flu vaccine developed by CSL on 18 September, and it became available free of charge on 30 September. Find out how you can protect yourself, your family, and the community by reading the vaccination update available on the Department of Health and Ageing website.
National Carers Week
Carers Week is a time to celebrate and acknowledge the vital role carers play in our society. Right across the country, carers are providing often unpaid care for a family member or friend with a disability, a mental illness or disorder, a chronic condition, a terminal illness, or who is frail. More than one in eight Australians provide care of this kind.
The theme of National Carers Week 2009 was Anywhere, Anytime Across Australia and was coordinated by Carers Australia, the peak national body for carers in Australia.
Carers Week aims to promote and raise awareness about the valuable role that carers play in our community, and to generate discussion about issues affecting carers. Carers Week also provides an opportunity for carers to come together, to support one another, and to share ideas, information, and resources.
HealthInsite has topic pages on Carers, Carers of People with Dementia, Carers of People with Parkinson's Disease, and Caring for Someone with a Mental Illness.
beyondblue: Caring for the Carers
To coincide with Carers Week, beyondblue launched a new DVD: Carers' Stories of Hope and Recovery. The DVD features interviews with people who care for or support a family member or friend with depression, anxiety, or a related disorder. More information about the DVD is available in the media release.
The DVD is one component of an information package that also includes fact sheets, a beyondblue Guide for Carers: Caring for Others, Caring for Yourself, and info cards with checklists. You can order the carers information package, or other materials, from the beyondblue catalogue. Many of beyondblue's comprehensive range of information materials are also able to be downloaded, and are available in a number of common community languages.
In addition to the topic pages for carers mentioned in the earlier article, HealthInsite also has topic pages on Depression and Anxiety.
Breast Cancer
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has published a new report: Breast Cancer in Australia: An overview, 2009. According to the report, more women are being diagnosed with breast cancer than ever before, but because of better early detection and improved treatments, the number of women dying because of the disease continues to fall.
For a summary of the report's findings, you can read the media release from the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC). You may also wish to download the full report.
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, she faces a challenging and life-changing journey. There will almost certainly be a man or men in her life who will also be affected - a husband, partner, son, father, brother, or friend. The NBOCC has developed an audio resource, When the woman you love has early breast cancer, to assist men in dealing with the emotional and practical challenges of being there for a loved one facing breast cancer. You can order a copy of the CD online.
HealthInsite has topic pages on Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Screening, and Breast Cancer Statistics and Research.
GP Online Survey
Griffith University is undertaking a nationwide survey to examine Australian general practitioners' use of the World Wide Web, the Internet, social media, and other Web 2.0 applications, and the implications for contemporary health care delivery. This survey is the first Australia-wide study of its kind.
If you are a GP, or think that your GP might be interested, you are invited to take the survey. The survey takes roughly 15 minutes to complete and will be active until 30 November 2009.
