Description:
A report of the Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program 2000/2001, shows there has been incidence of all strains of the gastroenteritis virus during the year in Australia, along with the a new and emerging G9 strain of the virus.

Date: 30/9/2001
Title: OzFood Net: Enhancing foodborne disease surveillance across Australia

Description:
In the first quarter of 2001, 27 outbreaks that were potentially related to food poisoning were reported to OzFoodNet sites around Australia, according to the quarterly report of OzFoodNet, published in the latest edition of Communicable Diseases Intelligence (CDI).

Date: 30/9/2001
Title: Vigilance pays off for investigators of rare food poisoning

Description:
The discovery of two cases in May this year in South Australia of Salmonella Zanzibar, a rare strain of bacteria not seen in SA since 1995, highlights the importance of investigative public health action even when the numbers of case reports are low.

Date: 19/9/2001
Title: Health Online: A Health Information Action Plan for Australia, second edition

Description:
Australia is rapidly embracing new and emerging technologies to change the ways in which health care is delivered and managed, highlighted with the release of Australia's second edition of the national health information action plan.

Date: 29/8/2001
Title: Chronicled for the first time - 100 Years of Australia's health released today

Description:
Dr Michael Wooldridge, Minister for Health and Aged Care, launched his Department's commemorative history book, Putting Life Into Years: The Commonwealth's Role in Australia's Health Since 1901 at Old Parliament House.

Date: 24/8/2001
Title: Dr Sidney Sax CBE

Description:
Earlier today Dr Sidney Sax, a man who was instrumental in the development of Australia's national health system, passed away.

Date: 10/8/2001
Title: New owner for Templestowe Private Nursing Home

Description:
The Department of Health and Aged Care has today been advised of a sale of the places at Templestowe Private Nursing Home.

Date: 9/8/2001
Title: Templestowe Private Nursing Home

Description:
At the end of January 2001, the Agency commenced a review audit at the home and on 23 February 2001, the home's accreditation period was reduced to 9 months and will run out on 12th September, 2001.

Date: 9/8/2001
Title: Melton Court Residential Care Service, Victoria

Description:
On 3, 4 and 5 July 2001, the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency conducted a review audit at Melton Court Residential Care Service and found serious risk.

Date: 8/8/2001
Title: 'Virtual Practice': GP demonstration projects underway

Description:
Virtual amalgamation of general practices is being piloted in 15 demonstration projects around the country.

Date: 18/7/2001
Title: Australia announces new measures to protect public from effects of BSE

Description:
A certification system that will determine the conditions under which beef and beef products may enter Australia has been announced by Professor Richard Smallwood, Australia's Chief Medical Officer, and Mr Ian Lindenmayer, Managing Director of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority.

Date: 31/5/2001
Title: Strategic action underway to tackle antibiotic resistance

Description:
Following a two-day summit in Sydney about the issues surrounding antibiotic resistance, delegates from the health, agricultural and consumer sectors have called upon the nation to re-think its use of antibiotics and to not use them inappropriately.

Date: 28/5/2001
Title: National Summit on Antibiotic Resistance

Description:
Leaders in health, agriculture and industry as well as consumers will be meeting for the first time at a National Summit on Antibiotic Resistance on May 30 and 31 in Sydney.

Date: 30/4/2001
Title: Chief Medical Officers agree to look at health risks of boxing

Description:
All State and Territory Chief Medical Officers, except for the Northern Territory, met by telephone hook-up today at the invitation of the Federal Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor John Mathews, to discuss the health impact of professional boxing.

Date: 22/3/2001
Title: Information released for people who use bovine insulin

Description:
Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Richard Smallwood announced that a detailed audit of bovine (beef derived) insulin used in Australia has shown that some beef insulin available in Australia may contain small amounts of Dutch-derived bovine insulin.

Date: 7/3/2001
Title: Department of Health celebrates birthday

Description:
The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care celebrates its 80th birthday.

Date: 9/2/2001
Title: Aboriginal health organisation welcomed back to Health Ministers Advisory Council

Description:
The Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council, Andrew Podger, today welcomed the news that the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) had decided to rejoin the Council.

Date: 8/2/2001
Title: Cooling tower shut down

Description:
The Department of Health and Aged Care last night took the precautionary measure of shutting down a cooling tower on the roof of the Alexander building in Woden, which was found to have notifiable levels of legionella.

Date: 5/1/2001
Title: Australia to extend suspension on imported beef products to other European countries

Description:
The Federal Government has decided to suspend the importation of foods containing beef or beef products from other countries in Europe because of concerns over Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as "mad cow" disease.

Date: 4/1/2001
Title: Staffing concerns at Kenilworth Nursing Home

Description:
The ongoing care and well being of the two remaining residents at the Kenilworth Nursing Home in Melbourne will continue to be monitored closely by the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Date: 1/1/2001
Title: Accreditation of residential aged care moves to a new phase

Description:
The first phase of the accreditation process, designed to improve the quality of care in Australia's residential aged care services, is now complete and within the time-frame laid in the Government's legislation.