Communicable diseases, also known as infectious diseases, are illnesses that can be spread from one person to another, through direct contact, contaminated surfaces, air or animals and insects.
In Australia, these diseases pose a significant public health challenge, but may be preventable through vaccination, hygiene practices and timely medical treatment.
Primary care providers play a key role in educating patients, offering vaccinations, diagnosing and treating communicable diseases, and helping prevent outbreaks through public health measures.
Additional Murray PHN resources
- HealthPathways information sheet on immunisation and communicable diseases
- Immunisation errors and cold chain management
- Measles
- Mosquito-borne diseases
- Winter diseases
Other resources
- Notifiable infectious disease, conditions and micro-organisms Victoria
- Reporting a notifiable disease New South Wales
- Ebola resources from The Australian Centre for Disease Control:
- Ebola information for frontline health professionals
- Infection prevention and control principles and recommendations for Ebola virus disease fact sheet
- Ebola virus disease – CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units
- For more information contact the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Border Health Section at Humanbiosecurity@health.gov.au
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