OzFoodNet: enhancing foodborne disease surveillance across Australia. Quarterly report January to March 2001

Abstract

In the latter part of 2000 the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care established and funded a collaborative network - coined OzFoodNet - to enhance the existing surveillance mechanisms for foodborne disease across Australia.

The aims of OzFoodNet are to:

1. estimate the incidence of foodborne disease in Australia;
2. learn more about the causes and determinants of foodborne disease;
3. identify risky practices associated with food handling and preparation; and
4. train foodborne disease epidemiologists.

The work of OzFoodNet will improve surveillance of foodborne disease across Australia. Collaborators of OzFoodNet include State health authorities, the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH), the Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN), Territory health departments, and national government agencies.

State health authorities have employed epidemiologists to enhance foodborne disease surveillance and conduct applied research into foodborne disease. Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria are enhancing surveillance across the whole State. New South Wales is concentrating efforts on the Hunter region although comparative data for the rest of the State area were supplied where available.