Australian Organ and Tissue Donor Week

The theme of this year’s Australian Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week is "family discussion" with the aim of helping to lift the nation’s family consent rate of just 56%. While around 80% of Australians express widespread support for organ donation, currently 1 in 2 Australians don’t know the wishes of their family members and 1 in 3 Australians don’t know that their family’s consent is required for donation to proceed. For more information and to download a copy of the Family Discussion Kit visit http://www.donatelife.gov.au/family

Even kings contract Malaria

New research  published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates malaria as the likely cause of Tutankhamun's death. OK, this was a little while ago but malaria still kills millions each year so it is important to take anti-malarial tablets and to avoid mosquito bites in endemic areas.

Free Influenza Vaccine for toddlers

The WA Health Department has announced that it will fund free seasonal influenza vaccinations for children aged 6 months to 5 years this year. Last year this age group had the highest rate of hospitalization for flu. Expect the vaccine to be available from your GP from about mid-March.

Avian Influenza ("Bird Flu") in Egypt

Travellers need to be aware of ongoing H5N1 Influenza reporting in Egypt. There have been 97 laboratory confirmed cases of which 27 have died.

World Cancer Day

Feb 4th is World Cancer Day. A timely reminder for us to think of ways we can reduce our chances of developing this deadly disease. Diet and exercize are important as are sun protection strategies. Screening such as Pap smears, breast exams and skin checks will all lessen the chances. Go to CancerWA for more preventative tips.