Page 506 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 1991
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Melioidosis
MRS NOLAN: My question is addressed to Mr Humphries in his capacity as Minister for Health. Is the Minister aware of the increase in the incidence this summer in northern Australia of the disease, melioidosis? What precautions should ACT residents travelling in northern Australia take to minimise the possibility of their contracting the disease?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I thank Mrs Nolan for this question on a matter of importance to people from the ACT who travel to the northern part of Australia. I am aware of the increased incidence this summer of this particular disease.
Ms Follett: What was it again?
MR HUMPHRIES: Melioidosis. The disease is caused by a bacterial agent, pseudomonas pseudomallei, also known as Whitmore's bacillus. It is a disease which is relatively common in Thailand, not all that uncommon in northern Australia, but unheard of in the ACT. The organism lives in contaminated soil and water and our dry conditions are not conducive to its existence, whereas the wet conditions of northern Australian in summer are conducive. The organism is most commonly introduced through abrasions to the skin, but it usually requires some other factor to produce overt disease. These are things like diabetes, alcoholism or any other condition where one's immune system is suppressed. Aboriginals, for example, are more likely to contract the disease.
The disease itself can present in a variety of ways, ranging from simple skin sores to septicaemia, which in turn may be fatal. The incidence this summer in the Northern Territory has been almost equal to that for the whole of the last 10 years and fatalities in northern Australia - approximately 11 - have had these added factors that I have just mentioned. It is advisable that anybody who travels in northern Australia - or any tropical area for that matter - maintain their health in the best way they can, and in this case have any skin abrasions adequately treated and covered and wear shoes or boots.
Equal Employment Opportunity Plans
MR BERRY: My question is directed to Mr Kaine and it is in relation to equal employment opportunity. Mr Kaine, as Minister responsible for the status of women in public administration, have the equal opportunity plans for the entire ACT Government Service now been lodged?
MR KAINE: I am not sure what you are talking about when you talk about an equal opportunity plan for the entire ACT Government.
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