Australia news live: NSW Health warns of rise in invasive bacterial infections

NSW Health warns of rise in invasive bacterial infections

NSW Health has issued a warning about increases in cases of two invasive bacterial infections in the last few weeks: meningococcal disease (IMD) and invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS).

Cases of IMD were above average in NSW towards the end of 2022, and cases of iGAS have increased around Australia and overseas, NSW Health said in a statement.

The infections are rare but severe, and both of them can cause death or permanent disability, so the agency is advising the community to be aware of the signs and symptoms.

The executive director of Health Protection NSW, Dr Richard Broome, said:

In their early stages, invasive bacterial infections including IMD or iGAS sometimes mimic symptoms of viral infections like Covid and influenza, and can also follow or occur at the same time as a viral infection.

Rapid intervention and effective treatment for invasive bacterial infections are available and can be lifesaving. We urge people to pay close attention to symptoms, trust their instincts, and seek urgent medical care if symptoms worsen or if they or the people they care for appear very unwell.

You can read all about the symptoms of meningococcal disease here and invasive group A streptococcus here.

Between September and December of 2022, 137 cases of iGAS were notified in NSW.

There were 36 cases of meningococcal disease reported in NSW in 2022.

Updated at 00.16 EST

Key events

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We’re now hearding from DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm:

A significant operation remains in full swing to resupply communities impacted by flooding and really relocate people who want to leave those areas. We continue to work closely with traditional owners and leaders on a daily basis to share key information and obtain cultural guidance for emergency services. We are also in contact with leaders of remote communities to ensure they have adequate food and medical supplies.

Due to safety concerns regarding water levels and their impact on power transformers, Horizon Power has switched off electricity supply to around 120 customers in Fitzroy Crossing, including the caravan park. Damaged power infrastructure won’t be fixed until flood waters recede.

The Water Corporation advises that people should avoid contact with floodwaters which may have been contaminated by wastewater due to heavy rainfall, and that people should follow basic hygiene procedures, including washing, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting anything that might have come in contact with floodwater.

The IGA in Fitzroy Crossing has been inundated with floodwater, Dawson says, but the Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation has been helping out, and providing meals and bedding in the region.

On emergency assistance payments, Dawson says:

The state government is working closely with the Commonwealth Government to expedite recovery payments, and we’re activating this process as quickly as we can. Our staff and local government representatives will soon be on the ground working through impacted towns and communities to do a rapid damage assessment. It will be done as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Scores of people evacuated from remote communities amid WA floods, minister says

We’re now hearing from Western Australia’s emergency services minister, Stephen Dawson, with the latest on the Kimberley floods.

Scores of people have been relocated from remote communities and from Fitzroy Crossing in the last 24 hours.

Dawson says authorities have endeavoured to relocate people to safe areas as close to where they actually live as possible.

Updated at 01.24 EST

Paul Karp

Paul Karp

US senators urge Biden not to sell nuclear submarines to Australia

Two top US senators have urged President Joe Biden not to sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, warning it would diminish US national security given the vessels are “scarce”.

The intervention confirms the US is under pressure not to sell its submarines before Australia is able to build its own as part of the Aukus alliance – meaning it could be decades before Australia gains nuclear submarines.

A spokesperson for the Australian defence minister, Richard Marles, played down the leak, saying “the optimal pathway for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines is taking shape, and an announcement remains on track to be made in the first part of this year”.

The Australian government is due to announce whether it plans to buy nuclear submarines from the US or UK by March.

According to US news site Breaking Defense, Democratic senator Jack Reed, the chair of the US Senate armed services committee, and the then ranking Republican senator James Inhofe, now retired, sent Biden the letter in December.

Read the full story here:

Updated at 01.05 EST

Severe weather warnings remain for parts of Western Australia and Northern Territory

Here is the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest update on the weather system bringing all that rain in Western Australia: ex-tropical cyclone Ellie will move further inland today to the WA north interior before weakening early next week.

Major flooding continues in the Fitzroy River and west Kimberley, and severe weather warnings are still active in parts of WA and the Northern Territory.

Ex-TC Ellie will move further inland today into WA’s North Interior before gradually weakening early next week.

Major flooding continues for Fitzroy River & the west Kimberley.

Severe Weather Warnings remain for parts of WA and NT.

Latest warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ pic.twitter.com/JIOvNMXOSG

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 6, 2023

Updated at 00.46 EST

Kimberley farmers face significant stock losses after record floods

Farmers in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia are expecting significant stock losses as record flood waters continue to spread.

AAP reports that the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association is unsure how many of the estimated 700,000 cattle found in the region have died due to the devastating rains.

The association’s chair, Jak Andrews, runs Yeeda Station, east of Fitzroy Crossing, and said most of the damage had been experienced in the surrounding area, but the flooding was yet to peak near Derby.

Andrews, on the flooded station, told AAP:

We’re not expecting the peak of this river to come down until probably Monday.

We’re hoping to have helicopters airborne tomorrow to move cattle to higher ground before that peak comes through.

Fortunately, there are no reports of loss of human life, but there’s certainly infrastructure and livestock losses.

Flooding near Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
Farmers in the Kimberley region say they are going to need help once the initial flood emergency is over. Photograph: Patrick Davies/Facebook

Andrews said the flooding was causing anxiety for pastoralists.

A number of properties are reporting significant losses … infrastructure damage, entire station complexes being submerged. There’s no doubt that the losses will be significant.

Andrews said station operators were going to need help once the initial emergency was over.

The state MP Neil Thomson echoed the calls for help, saying the challenges would come after the flood waters recede.

Updated at 00.41 EST

NSW Health warns of rise in invasive bacterial infections

NSW Health has issued a warning about increases in cases of two invasive bacterial infections in the last few weeks: meningococcal disease (IMD) and invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS).

Cases of IMD were above average in NSW towards the end of 2022, and cases of iGAS have increased around Australia and overseas, NSW Health said in a statement.

The infections are rare but severe, and both of them can cause death or permanent disability, so the agency is advising the community to be aware of the signs and symptoms.

The executive director of Health Protection NSW, Dr Richard Broome, said:

In their early stages, invasive bacterial infections including IMD or iGAS sometimes mimic symptoms of viral infections like Covid and influenza, and can also follow or occur at the same time as a viral infection.

Rapid intervention and effective treatment for invasive bacterial infections are available and can be lifesaving. We urge people to pay close attention to symptoms, trust their instincts, and seek urgent medical care if symptoms worsen or if they or the people they care for appear very unwell.

You can read all about the symptoms of meningococcal disease here and invasive group A streptococcus here.

Between September and December of 2022, 137 cases of iGAS were notified in NSW.

There were 36 cases of meningococcal disease reported in NSW in 2022.

Updated at 00.16 EST

Western Australia records 29 Covid deaths and 6,675 new cases this week

There were 252 people in hospital with Covid-19 this week, including six people in intensive care.

Updated at 00.00 EST

This is a lovely piece about the wonder and joy that comes from letting wild animals into your orbit and “getting to know the locals”. (I’d like to think my local family of magpies would agree.)