1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: Now I mentioned a little bit earlier this morning that 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: people in the Northern Territory are being alerted to an 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: increase in roadavirus, an infection that causes well some issues 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: with his stomach. From my understanding, so rotavirus notifications have 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: increased over the past two months, with ninety one cases 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: as I understand, recorded since the first of September. Most 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: of those have been in children under ten years of age. 8 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line from the Center for 9 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: Disease Control, Anthony Draper, Good morning to. 10 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 2: You, Hi, Katie. How are you going? 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, really well, Thanks so much for your time, Anthony. 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: There has obviously been this spike in rhodavirus. Firstly, what 13 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: exactly is rotavirus? 14 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 2: So, roadavirus is a virus, and obviously and it gives 15 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 2: you symptoms like fever, vomiting, and watery diarrhea. It's really 16 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: infectious and it spreads are really easily, particularly amongst kids 17 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: in places like childcare centers, within families, and also where 18 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 2: kids come together and play. So twenty years ago, we 19 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: used to get hundreds and hundreds of cases of rotavirus 20 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 2: each month in the Northern Territory, and we used to 21 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,279 Speaker 2: have whole wards in hospitals, particularly down in Alice Springs 22 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: that were full of kids with diarrhea, and overseas rotavirus 23 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: actually killed kids. It's a terrible disease. But we're lucky 24 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 2: that we've had a vaccine in Australia for about fifteen years, 25 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 2: the roadavirus vaccine in the Northern Territory. We started it 26 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: in two thousand and six and then the rest of 27 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 2: Australia in two thousand and seven. And this vaccine prevents 28 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 2: you from dying from rotavirus and also prevents you from 29 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: getting really really sick. So most kids will get fever, 30 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: vomiting and watery diarrhea, but in kids under us six 31 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 2: months of age, they can get really really severely dehydrated 32 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 2: and sick very quickly. 33 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: Wow. So we've had ninety one cases since September this 34 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: year comparatively to previous years, so I think the year 35 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: before there was only three. 36 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: So what's caused the increase, Well, I think it's probably 37 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 2: people moving around a little bit more. You know. The 38 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 2: coronavirus pandemic has been terrible in terms of us not 39 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: being able to visit friends and families and things like that, 40 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: but it's also been pretty good for stopping a lot 41 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: of diseases. But as Australia it has been opening up 42 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 2: and people have been moving around a little bit more 43 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: and we've seen these diseases that do normally spread around 44 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: sort of coming back to life. And in the last 45 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 2: since the start of September, we've actually seen over one 46 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: hundred cases now. So rotavirus is very infectious and it's 47 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 2: very easily spread, or we expected to spread more. But 48 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 2: what I did want your viewers to know is that 49 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,119 Speaker 2: you know, it's a preventable disease through vaccine. So when 50 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 2: you have a baby, you know, if you get their 51 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: roadavirus vaccine at six weeks of age and four months 52 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 2: of age, you're very it's very effective at preventing severe 53 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 2: illness and death. 54 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 1: Now tell us. So it's over one hundred cases now 55 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: since September, is it? 56 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've had about twenty cases in the last week. Wow. 57 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: And so like where exactly have they been up here 58 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: in the top end or in Central Australia in specific areas. 59 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 2: All over the place to be honest. So we thought 60 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: it came in over the Kimberly sort of late August 61 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: and September, and once it's in. It's that infectious that 62 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 2: just spread. So each year we'll either see it come 63 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: in down south and march its way up to Darwin, 64 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,799 Speaker 2: or sometimes it'll start in Darwen and march its way 65 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:18,799 Speaker 2: down south. It's very infectious. 66 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: And so have there been sort of outbreaks at childcare 67 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 1: centers or anything like that or has it just been 68 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: across the board. 69 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 2: We have had a couple of outbreaks in childcare centers 70 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: in the top ends. And the best way to prevent outbreaks, 71 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: and a lot of childcare centers do the right thing 72 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: is to make sure that people who've got diarrhea don't 73 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 2: come to childcare, whether it's some cares or children, and 74 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: to make sure that you're disinfecting things really thoroughly. And 75 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 2: I think during the pandemic we've become very good at 76 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: disinfecting things and washing hands and staying away from people 77 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: when we're sick. 78 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely. Now I know that Anthony, you're not able 79 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: to sort of say which childcare centers, and I'm sure 80 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: that those childcare centers have indeed notified are the kids 81 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: that are there. But did you say it was two 82 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: childcare centers that have been impacted. 83 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 2: I'll just say there's a couple, okay, and anecdotally we 84 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 2: hear that there's a bit of gastro going around, which 85 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 2: is what prompted us to put a media release out. 86 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, which is fair enough. And I think it's so 87 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: important that parents know. I mean, we should all be 88 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: making sure, whether we're parents or not, that we are 89 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: doing all the right things. But does a lot of 90 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: it come down to that hygiene? 91 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, hygiene, but with rotavirus in particular, getting vaccinated so 92 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 2: you know, when your kids born six weeks of age 93 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: and four months of age, you're really setting your child 94 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 2: up for a good childhood where they won't get rotavirus 95 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 2: and all the other vaccines as well that you can get. 96 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: So the NT's got an immunization schedule, and if you 97 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 2: follow that, you're setting your child up for a good childhood. 98 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: If they're not vaccinated, or even if they are vaccinated, 99 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 2: washing hands, be really scrupulous with your hygiene. One of 100 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 2: the best things to come out of the pandemic is 101 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,799 Speaker 2: that people are really focusing on their hygiene and protecting 102 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 2: themselves and their family. 103 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, so that is the best advice. If if 104 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: you have been vaccinated against rotavirus, is it still it 105 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: still sounds like it's possible that you could get it 106 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: or maybe well, obviously you can still get diarrhea if 107 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: there is something going around. 108 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, you might catch it. But the thing with the 109 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 2: vaccines that prevents you from getting really really quick, it 110 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 2: will prevent you from dying. Hopefully. The vaccines are great. 111 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: They're one of the best things that's happened in public 112 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 2: health in the last century. 113 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 1: With those cases that we've had in the NT so 114 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: far since September, of any of them ended up hospitalized. 115 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 2: I couldn't tell you off the top of my right now, 116 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: but I presume probably a couple have been. 117 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, And so the best advice make sure if your 118 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: children aren't vaccinated against it, make sure that you do 119 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: get them vaccinated. But if you have got diarrhea or 120 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: any of those other sort of tummy issues, make sure 121 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: that you're not handling food and make sure you keep 122 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: your kids home from childcare. 123 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. And also, you know, it's November and it's horrible 124 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 2: at the moment in terms of the temperature. So if 125 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: you do get sick with gastro you know, stay away 126 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 2: from other people. Seek medical help if you get really, 127 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: really sick. But it's also really important to make sure 128 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 2: that you're keeping hydrated, so you know, if you're breastfeeding 129 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 2: your child, make sure you're increasing feeds, and if the 130 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 2: child's older, you can give them more water or dilute 131 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 2: cordial or whatever they'll take to make sure that you're 132 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 2: keeping their fluids up, and so just to. 133 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: Sort of clarify, just to get a bit further detail 134 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: as well, it is mostly kids who are impacted, but 135 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: comparents or can adults still get it. 136 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, you can with roatavirus. Most people are exposed to 137 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 2: rotavirus in their childhood and most people like my age 138 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 2: would have probably had rotavirus as a kid and get 139 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: some sort of immunity. But you know, the majority of 140 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 2: kids who get it now you won't expect them to 141 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: get it again, and if they do, it will be 142 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,799 Speaker 2: super super mild. But obviously mums are the ones. Dads 143 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: sometimes as well, but mums usually the ones who are 144 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 2: changing the nappies and looking after kids, so obviously they're 145 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 2: a good chance of getting sick themselves. But if you 146 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: wash your hands all the time, don't change nappies, where 147 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: you prepare food and clean down areas where you changing nappies, 148 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 2: you're a good chance of preventing yourself getting sick. 149 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: Good advice, well, Anthony Draper from the Center for Disease Control, 150 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so much 151 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: for having a chat with us worry. 152 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you.