Health alerts
Health alerts
Information on health alerts and product recalls of interest to GPs.
06/02/2012APIDRA (insulin glulisine) SoloSTAR and Apidra 3mL Cartridge for ClikSTAR now available
Sanofi has advised the supply of Apidra SoloSTAR and Apidra 3mL cartridges (for use with blue ClikSTAR reusable pen) has resumed.
03/02/2012PIP breast implants update
The RACGP has today been informed by the Department of Health and Ageing’s Chief Medical Officer, of the following update in regards to the current Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) breast implant issues.
12/12/2011Pertussis epidemic in Australia
Australia is currently experiencing an epidemic of pertussis (whooping cough). In light of this, the Immunise Australia Program has commenced a communication campaign with pertussis brochures and posters available on the Immunise Australia Program website.
12/12/2011Methotrexate Charting and Administration
NSW Health advised GPs prescribing methotrexate to be aware of the risks associated with using oral methotrexate. Where a prescribed once weekly dosage is exceeded, the toxicity of methotrexate tablets can be fatal. Where methotrexate is to be given weekly, the day of the week should be verbally communicated and understood by the patient in addition to being specified in the instructions on any prescription
25/11/2011Changes to the National Immunisation Program Schedule and related payments
The Government announced changes to the National Immunisation Program Schedule and related payments. Eligibilty for the Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement will require that children are assessed as fully immunised, replacing the Maternity Immunisation Allowance from 1 July 2012.
09/11/2011Citalopram and heart problems - TGA warn of changes to recommended doses
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is advising that anti-depressant drug citalopram should no longer be used at doses greater than 40 mg per day.
03/11/2011Victorian Department of Health – Lead poisoning cases arising from Indian complementary medicine
Since early 2010, a number of cases of lead poisoning have been reported to the Victorian Department of Health as a result of taking complementary 'Ayurvedic' medicines imported from India.
20/09/2011Fact sheet for VIC GPs – Could it be whooping cough?
The Department of Health Victoria developed an early diagnosis of pertussis (whooping cough) fact sheet for Victorian GPs.
14/09/2011Cluster of oseltamivir resistant (H1N1) 2009 influenza identified in NSW
The Department of Health and Ageing has issued an alert regarding a recently identified cluster of cases of oseltamivir resistant pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza identified in the Hunter New England area of NSW.
02/09/2011Victoria Chief Health Officer alert for GPs – M.ulcerans (Bairnsdale/Buruli ulcer) (PDF 62KB)
Since January 2011 the Victoria Department of Health has received 40 notifications of M. ulcerans (Bairnsdale/Buruli ulcer) compared with 21 for the same period last year and 32 for the full year in 2010. Approximately 22 of these notifications have been in patients living on the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria.
09/08/2011Lead poisoning from imported Ayurvedic medicine (PDF 76KB)
The Victoria Chief Health Officer has issued a health alert to health professionals that some Ayurvedic medicines imported from India have been found to contain high levels of lead. High blood lead levels can lead to lead poisoning and can affect individual’s health. Over the past 18 months the department has been notified of three cases of elevated blood lead levels due to patients taking traditional Ayurvedic medications imported from India.
19/07/2011FSANZ warning – coffee products containing drugs
The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) posted to their website a warning regarding coffee products containing drugs - specifically analogues of Sildenafil (Viagra).
11/07/2011FSANZ warning consumers not to eat raw apricot kernels
The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) warns consumers against eating raw apricot kernels following the discovery of high levels of a naturally occurring toxin in some products available in Australia.
01/07/2011GP alert regarding E. coli O104 outbreak in Europe
A significant outbreak of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O104:H4, a highly pathogenic bacterium subgroup of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) is occurring in Europe. The O104:H4 strain causes bloody diarrhoea and percentage of cases are presenting with complications including haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a condition characterized by renal failure, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, and thrombocytopenia.
12/05/2011Free extra dose of infant pneumococcal vaccine
The Federal Government has announced a single free supplementary dose of Prevenar 13® will be provided to children aged between 12 and 35 months who have completed their primary vaccination course with the Prevenar® vaccine, to ensure these children can also benefit from the improved vaccine.
18/04/2011Australian Influenza Surveillance Report
The Department of Health and Ageing has produced a surveillance report on influenza. This report is based on data collected by the Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN).
17/04/2011TGA Issues precautionary advice about pneumococcal disease vaccine
Australia's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, has today issued precautionary advice to doctors not to give patients a second dose of the vaccine Pneumovax 23 pending completion of an investigation into an increased rate of adverse events in people receiving the vaccine for the second time.
29/03/2011Recall of Vaccine Batch N3336 Pneumovax® 23
The Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) has issued an immediate recall of Batch N3336 of the vaccine Pneumovax® 23. This batch of vaccine has only been supplied in NSW and ACT. The recall is a precautionary measure following reports of a small number of adverse reactions in some patients who have received the vaccine. Investigation is ongoing. For more information, visit www.tga.gov.au/safety/alerts-medicine-pneumovax-110325.htm.
17/03/2011Consumers warned not to consume Latin Seed products
Latin Seed, a slimming product, has been recalled from sale in Australia as it has been found to contain a toxic ingredient.
16/03/2011Advice on exposure to radiation arising from nuclear incidents in Japan
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has been closely monitoring the situation, in particular the potential exposure to radiation of Australians in Japan. For more information, visit www.arpansa.gov.au.
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