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Researchers at the Australian National Science Agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), have developed a new tool to understand how infectious diseases discovered abroad could spread in Australia.
The tool identifies and tracks new cases of infection at their original source in Australia and links the way the disease has been transferred between people using data from outbreaks of dengue fever in Queensland as a case study. It is part of the DiNeMo project (Disease Networks and Mobility), which aims to develop a system for alerting and monitoring real-time infectious diseases in humans.
Dr. Dean Paini, a researcher at CSIRO, said the tool was intended to protect Australia from the growing risk of infectious diseases. "Although Australia is relatively disease-free compared to other parts of the world, the diseases are transmitted by infected people, who may be Australians returning home after a vacation, tourists visiting Australia or workers traveling by air abroad, "he said. "Understanding how these infections spread once they reach Australia means that we can predict when and where an outbreak is likely to occur – it means that hospitals and biosecurity agencies can be as prepared as possible. In terms of biosecurity, time is always the enemy. Therefore, being able to direct resources to the right place at the right time can help diagnose and treat infected people as quickly as possible. "
Dr. Raja Jurdak, a researcher at CSIRO's Data61, highlighted the innovative nature of this tool: an intelligent way to understand the trends that underlie the spread of disease. This methodology allows us to examine the past, identify sources of infection and predict the potential spread of the disease. "
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