Applied Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Queensland, Australia

Abstract

I commenced my Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, the Australian National University with placement at the Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Health in February 2022. During the placement, I was involved in multiple projects, which demonstrated my core competencies to meet the requirements of the program including conducting an analysis of a public health dataset; investigating an acute public health problem or threat; designing and conducting an epidemiological study; and evaluating a surveillance system.

The projects and their findings are presented in this thesis as different Chapters: Epidemiology of varicella-zoster virus in Queensland, 2010-2021; An investigation of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli notifications in Queensland, 2020-2022; Using genomic surveillance for the investigation of COVID-19 clusters of a distinct sub-lineage of SARS-CoV-2, Queensland, 2023; Influenza epidemiology and vaccine effectiveness following public funding of an influenza vaccine program in Queensland, 2022; and an Evaluation of surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis in Queensland.

The thesis also describes my other experiences and public health activities including teaching to peers and first year students, presentation to scientific audiences at conferences, conducting a literature review, writing a lay summary on one of my field experiences, and participating in various departmental activities and meetings. These projects and activities are as per the requirements of the FETP undertaken for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology of the Australian National University. Show more