NEW figures that reveal high rates of two infectious diseases in Brimbank have the Department of Health concerned.
The department’s latest figures on notifiable conditions show high rates of salmonellosis and cryptosporidiosis in the area.
While department spokesman Bram Alexander said authorities weren’t
surprised by an increase of tuberculosis in Brimbank, because of the
high number of migrants in the area, salmonella and “crypto” cases were
being closely monitored.
“We’re certainly concerned about salmonella,” he said.
“[But] there’s nothing remarkable about that number [of tuberculosis cases] and it can be treated easily.”
Mr Alexander said Brimbank’s high levels of crypto cases, which
had quadrupled over the past three years, were because of poor hygiene
and lack of chlorination in public pools.
“The bug can be spread by one person who can excrete crypto into the water, which then spreads,’’ he said.
‘‘Pools are a big source. We’ve seen a large increase in the state, which is reflected in Brimbank.’’
Cryptosporidiosis is a parasite that causes gastroenteritis.
‘‘It’s a nasty bug,’’ Mr Alexander said.
‘‘We’ve had intervention with pools across the state to increase levels of chlorination.”
He said 90 per cent of all tuberculosis cases involved people who had been overseas.
