Australia is one of very few industrialized nations without a national disease control center. For the past 20 years, outbreak investigations have been preformed through the Master of Applied Epidemiology program at Australian National University (ANU). Funding has run out, raising concerns among public health experts. Professor Robert Douglas of ANU explained that the group played a role in “stemming the spread of about 200 epidemics, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Hendra virus, the swine flu and food-borne infections.” To see a map of outbreaks in Australia this year, please click here.
