Diseases
Amoebic Meningitis
Amoebic meningitis is a disease that causes inflammation and eventual destruction of the brain and brain linings. It is caused by a single-celled amoeba that lives in fresh water. The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, can survive in soil for a long time and still reactivate when put in fresh water.
Campylobacter
Campylobacter gastroenteritis is a type of food poisoning caused by the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Nearly half of all reported food poisonings in Australia are due to Campylobacter infection and the number of cases is on the increase. Approximately one third of all cases are in young children aged four years or younger, but all age groups can be affected.
Murray Valley Encephalitis
Murray Valley encephalitis is a rare but serious disease. Until recently it was also referred to as Australian encephalitis. It is named because of the large outbreaks that occurred in the Murray Valley region of southeastern Australia in the 1950s and 1970s. Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus occurs naturally throughout the northern half of Australia, Papua New Guinea and eastern Indonesia. In Western Australia, it is active in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions every year. Occasionally it extends into the Gascoyne, Murchison, northern Goldfields and Midwest regions of WA. It is also active in the Top End of the Northern Territory in most years and rarely it also extends to Central Australia and the inland parts of southeastern Australia. There is no vaccine to prevent Murray Valley encephalitis, and there is no medical cure.
Legionnaire’s Disease
Legionnaire’s disease was first identified in 1976 when over 200 members and visitors to a convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia USA developed pneumonia and 34 people died. There are over 40 species of Legionella each with many sub types. However, twelve species of Legionella bacteria have been implicated with causing human disease and two are significant in Western Australia. These are Legionella pneumophila and Legionella longbeachae. Legionella bacteria are widely present at low levels in the environment, in lakes, streams, ponds and soils, including potting mixes, mulches and compost. The chance of contracting Legionnaires disease from these sources is very low and most people who have been exposed to the bacteria develop antibodies (immunity) without showing any obvious symptoms. However, it is a serious disease as it has a mortality rate of around 15%.
Listeria Infection
Listeria infection or listeriosis is a rare, flu-like illness caused by eating food that contains Listeria bacteria. These bacteria are sometimes found in food that has not been properly prepared or stored, and particularly in certain high risk food types. Most healthy people can eat these foods without becoming sick. However, others can become very ill or even die. Fortunately, there are only about seven cases of Listeria infection each year in Western Australia.
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