-
Conjunctivitis
Notification is required in Victoria, depending on which pathogen is identified in a case of acute bacterial conjunctivitis. School exclusions apply...
-
Amoebiasis
Amoebiasis is caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Most infections are asymptomatic, but can cause intestinal or extra-intestinal disease...
-
Anthrax
Anthrax must be notified immediately in Victoria. It is an acute bacterial disease that usually affects the skin...
-
Ascariasis
In Victoria, ascariasis, or roundworm infection, is not notifiable, but school exclusions may apply depending on the patient’s symptoms...
-
Avian influenza
Avian influenza (AI), commonly called bird flu, is an infectious viral disease of birds. Most AI viruses do not infect humans, but some strains can...
-
Barmah Forest virus
Barmah Forest virus (BFV) disease is notifiable. In Victoria, the number of notified cases per year varies largely depends on the conditions...
-
Botulism
Botulism must be notified immediately in Victoria. Foodborne botulism – the most common form of botulism – is severe and often fatal...
-
Brucellosis
Brucellosis has been eradicated from Australian cattle herds, but it still present in feral pigs in northern Australia and is a risk to those who hunt or butcher wild pigs...
-
Campylobacter infection
In Victoria, Campylobacter infection must be notified. The infection may be subclinical or cause disease of variable severity...
-
Chickenpox and shingles
Chickenpox and shingles are contagious diseases that must be notified within 5 days of diagnosis, and can be controlled by vaccination...
-
Chikungunya virus
Chikungunya virus infection is notifiable in Victoria. The virus has not been detected in Australia; all presenting cases have been infected overseas...
-
Chlamydia
In Victoria, chlamydia is notifiable. Medical practitioners must also notify Child Protection Service if a child needs protection due to sexual abuse...
-
Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Chlamydophila pneumoniae is emerging as a frequent cause of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia...
-
Cholera
In Victoria, cholera must be notified immediately. It is also subject to Australian quarantine...
-
Clostridium difficile
C. difficile–associated diarrhoea often presents as colitis during or following antibiotic use. Not all infected people will develop symptoms...
-
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) must be notified in Victoria. Both classical and variant CJD are transmissible spongiform encephalopathies...
-
Croup or bronchiolitis
In Australia, croup mainly affects young children. Bronchiolitis predominantly affects children in the first year of life...
-
Cryptococcosis
Cryptococcus is a fungus that is found in soil and is usually associated with bird droppings. It is found all over the world...
-
Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic infection that commonly presents as gastroenteritis. In Victoria, it is notifiable. School exclusions also apply...
-
Cytomegalovirus
Primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may cause a mononucleosis-type syndrome. CMV is an important cause of congenital viral infections in Australia...
-
Dengue fever
Dengue virus infection is notifiable in Victoria. There are two forms – dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever, the latter of which is severe...
-
Diphtheria
Diphtheria must be notified immediately in Victoria. Exclusion periods apply to both cases and contacts. It is vaccine preventable...
-
Donovanosis
Donovanosis is notifiable in Victoria. Medical practitioners must also notify Child Protection if they believe a child is being sexually abused...
-
Erythema infectiosum
Erythema infectiosum, or slapped check disease, is a mild disease that is common in children. Outbreaks are in the winter and spring...
-
Food or water-borne illness
Two or more related cases of food- or water-borne illness must be notified. The illness can be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites...
-
Giardiasis
In Victoria, giardiasis is not notifiable, but school and childcare exclusions still apply. Children are affected more often than adults...
-
Gonorrhoea
In Victoria, gonorrhoea is a notifiable disease. Medical practitioners must notify Child Protection if they believe that a child is in need of protection on the basis of sexual abuse...
-
Hib infections
Haemophilus influenzae type b infections must be notified immediately in Victoria. Childhood immunisation is the most important preventive measure...
-
Hand, foot and mouth disease
In Victoria, hand, foot and mouth disease is not notifiable, but school and childcare exclusions do apply. Outbreaks are common among groups of children...
-
Hendra virus
In Australia, when Hendra virus is suspected in a horse, an inspector from the livestock health and pest authority or department of primary industries must be notified...
-
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A must be notified immediately in Victoria. Outbreaks in Victoria have been associated with shellfish, lettuce, strawberries and blueberries...
-
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B infections must be notified in Victoria. The hepatitis B vaccine is a part of the Australian childhood immunisation program...
-
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C infection must be notified. Specific information is required to be notified under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009...
-
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis D must be notified in Victoria. Vaccination against hepatitis B prevents hepatitis D virus infection...
-
Hepatitis E
In Victoria, hepatitis E is a notifiable condition. It is not endemic in Australia, and most cases occur in travellers...
-
Herpes simplex
Herpes simplex virus infections manifest as cold sores (on the face) and genital herpes (in the genital area)...
-
HIV and AIDS
HIV is notifiable in Victoria (AIDS is not notifiable). Same-sex contact is the major risk factor for men. In women, it is heterosexual contact and injecting drug use...
-
Hydatid disease
Hydatid disease (echinococcosis) occurs worldwide and is mainly associated with sheep farming. It can also be acquired from dogs and dingoes in Australia...
-
Impetigo
Impetigo is a rapidly spreading, highly contagious skin infection that frequently occurs in children’s settings. School and childcare exclusions do apply...
-
Glandular fever
Infectious mononucleosis is an acute viral infection that mainly affects young adults. Basic hygiene is the only recommended prevention method...
-
Influenza
Influenza is a notifiable disease. Residential care, healthcare and childcare facilities are all at higher risk of influenza outbreaks...
-
Pneumococcal disease
Invasive pneumococcal disease is notifiable. S. pneumoniae is a common cause of bacterial meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia...
-
Japanese encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis must be notified immediately in Victoria. Most infections are asymptomatic. The virus is present in the Torres Strait islands...
-
Legionellosis
In Victoria, legionellosis must be notified immediately. Outbreaks in Australia are generally associated with manufactured water systems...
-
Leprosy
Leprosy is a notifiable disease in Victoria. Some exclusions apply to leprosy cases. Leprosy is rare in Australia, but is occasionally detected...
-
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is notifiable in Victoria. Animal hosts include rats, cows and pigs. Farmers, and farm and meat industry workers are commonly affected...
-
Listeriosis
Listeriosis must be notified in Victoria, and laboratories must notify Listeria monocytogenes isolated from food or water...
-
Malaria
Malaria is a notifiable disease in Australia. Malaria is not endemic in Australia, but northern parts of Australia are at risk...
-
Measles
Measles must be notified immediately in Victoria. Measles is vaccine-preventable, as part of the MMR (measles–mumps–rubella) vaccine...
-
Melioidosis
Melioidosis is endemic in northern Australia. In parts of the Northern Territory, it is a common cause of community-acquired bacteraemic pneumonia...
-
Meningitis
Meningococcal disease must be notified immediately in Victoria. Vaccines are available for some meningococcus serogroups...
-
Molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral disease of the skin. It is transmitted by direct contact, fomites or sexual contact...
-
Mumps
Mumps must be notified within 5 days of diagnosis. School exclusions apply...
-
Murray Valley virus
Murray Valley encephalitis must be notified immediately in Victoria. It may present as non-encephalitic, encephalitic or asymptomatic disease...
-
Mycobacteria - non-TB
Lung infections caused by atypical Mycobacterium spp. are not notifiable, and mainly cause infections in immunocompromised people...
-
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and is notifiable. School exclusions apply. An outbreak in Australia is not likely...
-
M. ulcerans infection
Mycobacterium ulcerans infection must be notified in Victoria. The exact mode of transmission is unknown...
-
Nipah virus
Nipah virus infection is a newly emerging zoonosis – first detected in 1998 – that does not have to be notified, but new cases should be reported...
-
Head lice
Head lice is very common in children. The prevalence of head lice on Australian primary–school aged children could be 60 per cent in some areas...
-
Pertussis
In Australia, pertussis is becoming more common. Confirmed pertussis (or whooping cough) must be notified within five days of diagnosis...
-
Pinworm
The pinworm is the most common helminth parasite of temperate regions. These infections are found worldwide and affect all socioeconomic groups...
-
Plague
Plague must be notified immediately in Victoria and is subject to quarantine. Y. pestis, the infectious bacterium, is not endemic in Australia...
-
Polio
In Victoria, poliomyelitis must be notified immediately. School exclusions apply. Vaccination is the best way to prevent and eradicate poliomyelitis...
-
Psittacosis
Psittacosis is notifiable in Victoria. C. psittaci is highly infectious, and people can become infected after close contact with infected birds...
-
Q fever
Q fever is a notifiable disease in Victoria. Q fever is an occupational hazard for workers who work closely with animals...
-
Rabies – lyssavirus
Rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus are both notifiable in Victoria. Rabies is quarantinable in Australia, and cases must be reported to WHO...
-
Rickettsial disease
There are several important rickettsial diseases in Australia. There is no vaccine, so people must protect themselves with pesticides and repellents...
-
Ringworm
Ringworm, or tinea, is not notifiable in Victoria, but does have exclusion periods. All ages are susceptible to ringworm infections...
-
Ross River virus
Ross River virus (RRV) infection is notifiable in Victoria. RRV is Australia’s most common and widespread arboviral disease...
-
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is notifiable in Victoria, but exclusions do apply. An outbreak is two or more related cases...
-
Rubella
Rubella is a notifiable disease. Rubella is not common in Australia, due to widespread vaccination with the measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine...
-
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is a notifiable disease in Victoria, and school exclusions apply. Victoria has about 2,000 cases of salmonellosis reported each year...
-
Scabies
Scabies is a highly contagious parasitic skin infestation. (Norwegian) scabies is a particularly virulent infestation...
-
SARS
SARS must be notified immediately in Victoria. Health authorities are vigilant in SARS surveillance, to quickly detect another outbreak...
-
Shigellosis
In Victoria, shigellosis is a notifiable disease, and school exclusions apply. The infectious dose is low, and may be as few as 10 organisms...
-
Smallpox
Smallpox must be notified immediately in Victoria. Smallpox is a severe, prostrating illness characterised by fever and a rash...
-
Staph infections
Staphylococcal infection is usually mild, but methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is of growing concern in hospitals and the community...
-
Streptococcal disease
Group A streptococci (GAS) causes a variety of infections, from throat and skin infections, to fevers and severe invasive diseases...
-
Syphilis
Syphilis – a complex disease with many sequelae – is notifiable in Victoria. Child Protection must be notified if a child could be sexually abused...
-
Taeniasis
Both pork (Taenia solium) and beef (T. saginata) tapeworm can cause intestinal infections in people...
-
Tetanus
Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease that must be notified in Victoria. Tetanus toxoid is part of the Australian childhood immunisation schedule...
-
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma gondii – a protozoan – occurs worldwide in mammals and birds. The main host in Australia is the domestic cat...
-
Typhoid
Typhoid and paratyphoid must be notified immediately in Victoria. Most cases are in returned travellers, especially from southern Asia...
-
Verotoxin-producing E. coli
In Victoria, haemolytic uraemic syndrome must be notified immediately. VTEC and STEC must also be notified...
-
Gastro (not rotavirus)
In Victoria, viral gastroenteritis (not rotavirus) cases should be excluded. Norovirus is the major cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks...
-
Haemorrhagic fevers
In Victoria, viral haemorrhagic fevers – in particular, Crimean-Congo, Ebola, Lassa and Marburg – are of concern and must be notified immediately...
-
West Nile and Kunjin virus
West Nile and Kunjin virus infection are notifiable diseases in Victoria. Kunjin virus is found in parts of Australia, but West Nile virus is not...
-
Yellow fever
In Victoria, yellow fever must be notified immediately and is subject to Australian quarantine. The World Health Organization must also be notified...