Our unit is responsible for the detection, prevention and management of communicable diseases in the community. A communicable disease is a disease that can be spread from another person, animal or insect.
We investigate communicable diseases and try to prevent further spread to keep the local community healthy, safe and well.
What we do
- Monitor and respond to notifiable diseases and conditions reported to Queensland Health under the Public Health Act 2005, including:
- Food and water borne disease outbreaks
- Vaccine preventable diseases
- Mosquito-borne infections
- Infections transmitted to humans from animals including Q Fever, Hendra virus and Australian Bat Lyssavirus.
- Manage communicable disease outbreaks and public health incidents, including influenza in Residential Care Facilities (RCF)
- Provide expert advice to health professionals, governments, industry and community
- Develop, implement and partner with others on projects and research to prevent and control communicable diseases;
- Monitor, enforce and promote compliance with the Public Health Act 2005
- Human quarantine at Gold Coast International Airport
- Joint program with local government and other agencies on mosquito control and mosquito borne diseases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide travel medicine advice?
The Gold Coast Public Health Unit only provides advice for vaccines listed on the Immunisation Schedule Queensland. For travel medicine advice, please see a Travel Medicine specialist
Animal and bat bites or scratches
It is essential to be aware of the Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV), which can be spread from bats to humans and result in severe illness and even death. This can happen when a person is bitten or scratched by a bat, or licked on broken skin, or on the eyes, nose, or mouth.
If you experience a bat bite, scratch, or lick, it is essential to seek health advice as you are likely going to require follow up known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This involves administering a rabies vaccine (with or without rabies immunoglobulin) to a person before they show symptoms to prevent the disease. You may also require a tetanus booster. There is no known effective treatment for ABLV disease once symptoms have started.
Never touch a bat with your bare hands. Only trained and vaccinated bat handlers should ever touch bats. If you come across a sick or injured bat on the Gold Coast, you should contact:
- Department of Environment and Science (phone 1300 130 372)
- Currumbin Wildlife Hospital (phone 07 5534 0813)
- Bats Qld (phone 0447 222 889)
For further information:
- ABLV fact sheet: Australian bat lyssavirus | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
- Bats and human health: Bats and human health | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
- Be Bat Aware: bat-poster.pdf (health.qld.gov.au)
- Kids and bats don’t mix: Kids and bats poster (health.qld.gov.au)
- What to do if you find a sick or injured bat: Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) - Information for people who have found a sick or injured bat (health.qld.gov.au)
Be aware of rabies virus before and during your travel overseas.
Rabies is a disease of the nervous system caused by the rabies virus. It infects domestic and wild land mammals and is spread to people through infected saliva. A bite or scratch from an infected animal or a lick on broken skin, eyes, nose, or mouth (mucous membrane exposure) from an infected animal can cause rabies. Most rabies cases worldwide are caused by dog bites. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal.
Post-exposure management is recommended for anyone who has potentially been exposed to the rabies virus, even if they've been previously vaccinated.
For further information see Rabies fact sheet: Rabies | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
