1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: And we know that right now Territorians are being warned 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:08,480 Speaker 1: about an increased risk of animal born diseases this wet season. 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line to tell us more 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: about these diseases and what we can do in an 5 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: effort to protect ourselves, it is the Department of HEALTHS 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: Director of the Northern Territory Health Center for Disease Control, 7 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,319 Speaker 1: Vicky Krass. Good morning to you. 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 2: Oh, good morning, Vicky, Thanks so much for your time 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 2: this morning. 10 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: And I tell you what a couple of these diseases 11 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: I can't even pronounce. So what are they exactly, Vicky? 12 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 2: Right, Well, we'll get the pronunctensions out there. We're talking 13 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 2: lonely about leptospirosis and about brucellosis, and particularly about leptos roses. 14 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 2: And these come under the category of diseases called zooanoses, 15 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 2: which means that they can be transmitted from animals. So 16 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: that's what we're talking about. There's sort of a warning 17 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 2: out there about those that work with our animals, are 18 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: interact where animals have been and tramp around in water 19 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 2: rays where animals have been, that these are two diseases 20 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 2: that they should be aware of and that certainly have 21 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 2: been reported in the territory Jichi lepto. 22 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: I know that it's it is a disease that probably 23 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: some have heard about because we get our usually our 24 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: dogs get needles for lepto, don't they. 25 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 2: That's correct, that you can that animals can get vaccines 26 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: for leptospirosis, but humans can't, and so there aren't vaccines 27 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: for them. So basically most animals, however, who have leptosaurosis 28 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 2: don't get vaccine, particularly rats. So hence the widespread dissemination 29 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: of that bacteria that causes leptospirosis, particularly in the rat population, 30 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: of which we have a very large rat population. If 31 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 2: you go out to fog down or and you know 32 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: there's those thousands of rats and in our environment, and 33 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: it's in the urine of rets and the urine of 34 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 2: other animals, cattle, that's you know, many other animals that 35 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 2: wouldn't be vaccinated. Yeah, right, can be, but it's not 36 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: that efficient or effect or efficient really too, and it 37 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,799 Speaker 2: has to be done yearly. So that's not yet the 38 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 2: the way that this will be controlled at the moment. 39 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 2: So people just have to be aware. 40 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so Vicky, how like, what do you need 41 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: to do to make sure that you are sort of 42 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: covered or that you don't you know that you protect yourself. 43 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 2: I guess, yeah, well that's right. So it's as we said, 44 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 2: it's transmitted from animals. So it's really we're targeting towards 45 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 2: people who interact with animals. So if you're working any 46 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 2: kind of husbandry, you're working with cattle, you're working out 47 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: amongst you know, in farmlands and low lying wetlands for farming, 48 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 2: then you're probably at risk because animals also go with 49 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 2: that area and therefore and urinate and so that it 50 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 2: becomes contaminated. Also, if you're just an active outdoors person 51 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 2: you go out camping a lot, go out bushwalking a lot, 52 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 2: and particularly again we're talking about the wet season, then 53 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:11,959 Speaker 2: you're more at risk. So that those are the people 54 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 2: that we're concerned about who put themselves more at risk. 55 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 2: And so you just really have to know that this 56 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 2: bacteria really can pass through any membranes in your body, 57 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: so your nose, your eyes, your mouth, your throat, your hands, 58 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: if you have cuts or legs, if you have cuts 59 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: or sores on them. So it's really keeping yourself as 60 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 2: healthy as possible and not and keeping yourself as clean 61 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: as possible, So it's really good hygiene, especially when you're 62 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 2: in muddy situations where animals also are. 63 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: And so about the brucellosis, how is it similar to 64 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: lipto or is it a bit different. 65 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 2: It's a bit different and it's much less common. And 66 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: for many years we have thought we did not have rucellosis. 67 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 2: In the church. People will have heard of brucellosis a 68 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 2: different type of brucelet from years ago. Really old timers 69 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: will remember the b Tech program with the brucellosis and 70 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: tuberculosis eradication campaign which got rid of that one type 71 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: of brucellosis. But the brucellosis we're talking about here is 72 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 2: one that is found in pigs particularly and dogs, particularly 73 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 2: pig dogs. So this is in the felt to be 74 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 2: possibly in the feral pig population. It certainly is in 75 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: Queensland and in northern New South Wales. We haven't thought 76 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: that it was in the territory. But last year there 77 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 2: was one case in a feral pig that was slaughtered 78 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 2: and eaten and eaten possibly not fully cooked, and a 79 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 2: young person did have brucellosis. So it makes us think, yes, 80 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 2: it is here, and so people who do interact with pig, 81 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 2: the feral pig population need to be aware of it, 82 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 2: need to protect themselves pretty much the same way that 83 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 2: I said membranes. If you're going to go out hunting, 84 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 2: make sure you wear the right clothing, the right boots, 85 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: You cover yourself. If you're going to be cutting up animals, 86 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 2: that you do that with gloves and glasses, and you know, 87 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 2: you keep yourself protected from the bodily fluids of the animal. 88 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 2: And also if you're going to cook it, that you 89 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 2: cook it properly and fully, and also that you don't 90 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 2: offer uncooked or no cooked meat to your dogs, because 91 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: then you can get the dogs infected as well. So 92 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 2: that's really important to be aware of. 93 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: And vicky with the well, I mean with both of these, 94 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: but particularly with the lipto. Are there increased numbers or 95 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 1: have we seen people contracting it in the Northern Territory 96 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: in recent weeks or months? 97 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, well we have, and hence the alert here in 98 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: that in most years we get either no cases or 99 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 2: maybe up to four cases in a year, but last 100 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 2: year we had thirteen or fourteen cases actually in the end, 101 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 2: and this year already we've had six cases and today 102 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 2: we have another one we're working up which would be 103 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 2: the seventh case, So we are seeing an increased number 104 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 2: of cases and this would be over the last couple 105 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 2: of months in the wet season. So we're just really 106 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 2: there's a shout out there to make people aware that 107 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 2: they need to take care if they're out and around 108 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 2: in the wetlands, if they're in amongst animals or working 109 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: with animals that they have, you know, it's really important 110 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 2: that they'd be aware of this disease. I might just 111 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 2: mention how does it present? How would you know that 112 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: you get it? It presents somewhat like a flu, but 113 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 2: you usually get a bad headache, you have terrible muscle aches, 114 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 2: you get fever, and so if you have been out 115 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 2: and about and you get fever, you have aches and pains, 116 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 2: then getting along to see a doctor is really important 117 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 2: and tell them where you've been. It's very treatable, but 118 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 2: it also can be severe if not treated. So it's 119 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 2: just an important disease entity to know about. 120 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: Goodness may I mean, there's always so much that we've 121 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: got to know about in the Northern Territory, but when 122 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: it comes to some of these different diseases, it must 123 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: make your job very fascinating. 124 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,119 Speaker 2: Vicky. Well, it does take it beyond COVID at the moment, 125 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 2: which is very good. And I was just gonna say 126 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: about it. The hunting is the other thing, because we 127 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 2: do have a lot of hunters up here. So I've 128 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: talked about the pig hunting and all that, but you know, 129 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: we do also have turtle hunting and ducking goose hunters, 130 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: and we also have crocodile egg hunters and for a 131 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 2: while they were our standout crew who who tended to 132 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: get leapto so right. I always thought the mother crocodile 133 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 2: was more of a risk. Certainly, if you're out and 134 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: about hunting, that's a risk as well. 135 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: Oh goodness, may well, I tell you what, Like I said, 136 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: very interesting, it's not just those midgies and things that 137 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: you've got to be worried about, or even about the 138 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: animals being dangerous, all the different things that you can contract, VICKI, 139 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: if there is anybody out there listening who wants a 140 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: little bit more information, are they able to jump on. 141 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: I'm assuming that the Center for Disease Control or even 142 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: the Department of Health has probably got a bit more 143 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: information online as well. 144 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: They do, they can go on and get a fact 145 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 2: sheet either from the Department of Health or from the 146 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 2: Department of from the vets of the I T T industry, 147 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 2: tourism and trade, so from both angles, the animal angle 148 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 2: and the human health angle. There's information on the web well. 149 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: Northern Territory Health Director of the Center for Disease Controlled, 150 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: doctor Vicki Krauss. It is always fascinating to speak to you. 151 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: I enjoy our chats. Thank you very much for having 152 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: a chat with me this morning. 153 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you.