June 2004

$1.9 million to fight killer diseases

Victoria’s top public health laboratories have received a $1.9 million funding boost to help detect Legionnaires’ and meningococcal disease and to screen for and diagnose cancer and genetic conditions.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike has announced an additional $441,000 for the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit (MDU) at Melbourne University, which has the longest continuously active public health laboratory in Australia.

‘The 106-year-old laboratory will tap new technology to deliver more advanced, efficient and timely results with the additional funds.

‘The MDU identifies diseases Statewide and is a key player in tracking down the wide variety of perils to public health.

‘These include meningococcal infections, Legionnaires’ disease, food poisoning, blood-borne viruses, salmonella and antibiotic-resistant organisms.’

Ms Pike also announced $454,000 to the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL).

VIDRL, part of Melbourne Health, is a Statewide service which probes outbreaks such as measles, legionella and influenza, diagnoses and monitors HIV, hepatitis viruses and tuberculosis and has a major role in unmasking viral pathogens behind food-borne diseases.

VIDRL has been at the forefront of recent major regional events such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and avian influenza.

Ms Pike said the two labs, both funded through the Human Services Department, would use the funds to replace old or obsolete equipment or invest in major new technology.

Other health services to receive equipment funding include the Victorian Cytology Service ($136,873), Victorian Thalassemia Service ($18,097), Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute ($96,800), Victorian Cancer Cytogenetics Service ($106,476), BreastScreen Victoria ($170,000), Genetic Health Services Victoria ($395,479), Melbourne Health Pathology ($75,840) and Melbourne Sexual Health Centre ($63,636).