Building the Future of Biodefense

Recommendation: Organizations in New South Wales, Australia, should inform employees about the possible measles exposures and should provide flexible work schedules to support employees making vaccine appointments for themselves or family members. Measles is highly contagious and can quickly spread among unvaccinated individuals in a work environment.

Situation: Health officials confirmed 2 new measles cases in Sydney, Australia. One case was locally acquired, while the second had no known exposure, suggesting ongoing undetected community transmission. The public may have been exposed at The Piazza Residential complex 1 in Wentworth Point (3/4-10), JB & Sons Restaurant in Manly (3/8), ​Henry G’s Wine Parlour in Manly (3/8), ​Donny's Bar in Manly (3/8), The Village Inn in Paddington (3/7), Summer Dance Festival, Liberty Hall Courts in Moore Park (3/7), Wentworth Point Pierside Shopping Centre (3/6), Sydney Bus - Manly Wharf to The Northern Beaches Hospital (3/5), ​Felons Brewing Co. in Manly (3/5), ​​The Fresh Fruit Team - Flemington Sydney Markets in Homebush West (3/4-5), and at multiple health care facilities which can be found at the source link. Exposed individuals should monitor for measles symptoms (7-21 days from exposure). [Confidence: Very High]

Recommendation: Heavy rainfall and flooding can disturb bacteria in soil and contaminate water, increasing the risk of diseases. Organizations in Hawaii with employees affected by flooding may wish to include health and safety-related information in their communications. This should cover adhering to local health guidance, wearing personal protective equipment, protecting open wounds, ensuring access to clean water, and warning about flood hazards, including mold and cuts from submerged metal.

Situation: Hawaii issued an emergency proclamation ahead of a severe storm system expected this week. A "Kona" low weather system is expected to bring heavy rainfall, flooding, strong to severe thunderstorms, and high winds starting as soon as midweek and continuing through the weekend. A statewide flood watch was issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday, with variations in the flood watch start time by island. Media sources reported that the amount of rain could range from around 10 inches to 30-plus inches, with rainfall rates potentially exceeding 2-3 inches per hour. The storm is expected to hit Kaua'i and O'ahu first before moving to the rest of the state. Based on some forecasting models, the high-end potential of the storm is significantly outside of the realm of "normal" wet season weather. [Confidence: Very High]