The Minister for Health recently launched the review of the Food Act 2008. Interested stakeholders are asked to provide submissions on whether the objects of the Food Act are being met and if it is operating effectively. For details on how to make a submission refer to:

• Environmental Health WA Professional Review Board
• Environmental Health Workforce Planning and Capability Development

• Tuesday 8th March 2022; 9am to 11am
• Tuesday 5th July 2022; 9am to 11am
• Tuesday 15th November 2022; 9am to 11am

Local governments are encouraged to use the Play it Food Safe campaign materials to promote food safety messages over the festive season. While holiday functions make this an enjoyable time of year, good times can turn sour if food is not handled correctly in the warm weather. The rate of illnesses such as gastroenteritis often increases over summer because warmer temperatures permit more rapid bacterial growth in foods if they are left out of the fridge. The EHD has developed an example food safety press release that local governments can modify to promote food safety messages to residents. The community should be refered to the food safety section on the HealthyWA website.

The EHD in collaboration with OzFoodNet have published an updated infographic summarising food-borne outbreaks investigated in WA from May 2021 to August 2021. Key food offenders include fried icecream, cupcake icing, pork porridge and bao buns. Previous infographics are available on the food-borne disease outbreak page. 

On 11 October 2019, Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, announced the Australian Government was stepping up its commitment to the Pacific by launching a kava pilot program. While the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code permits the sale of certain forms of kava as food, the removal of import restrictions at the border will mean new suppliers and increased volumes of kava food products may enter the WA marketplace. The EHD is liaising with the Australia Government, and other State and Territory Governments to clarify reporting processes for follow-up, and compliance monitoring, at the border and in the domestic market. Further information is available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Office of Drug Control; Import requirements for Kava and Guidance: Import kava for food use. Further guidance will be provided to WA local governments over the coming months. 

The EHD has published a technical report on Public health risks of methylamphetamine (meth) smoke houses. This report confirms EHD’s existing view that associated house residue contamination represents a low public health risk, although still requiring a response. This EHD position has been fundamental to the Remediation of low-level illict drug contamination guidance, but the report will greatly inform revision of this guidance. A key message is that when meth contamination is suspected or investigated, any found should be assumed to be from smoking meth and managed accordingly, unless there is evidence of the more dangerous but much less common impacts resulting from manufacture.

As the temperature warms, algal blooms may form in environmental waterways. The EHD encourages local governments to report notable algal blooms to the Algal Bloom email. This may require water sample collection for phytoplankton analysis to determine the type of algal species and level of health concern. The Phytoplankton Ecology Unit from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (laboratories in Joondalup and Bunbury) can assist in one-off response sampling analysis. Algal specific water sampling bottles/information can be obtained by emailing: peu@dwer.wa.gov.au. Local governments should check that you have relevant warning signs that can be erected in the event of a bloom. The EHD has limited stock of ‘standard’ and ‘shellfish and crab’ specific warning signs for emergency situations. Refer to algal bloom for further information.

West Australians are reminded to protect themselves and their families from the rare but potentially fatal infection amoebic meningitis over summer, which may arise from warm fresh water in pools and spas, water from garden hoses or sprinklers, wading pools and regional rivers, dams and lakes. The EHD will issue a media statement over summer to raise awareness on the matter. Local governments are encourage to promote safe swimming messages during summer. Information is available from:

The Aquatic Facilities Code of Practice provides response plans for managing suspect events in aquatic facilities. 

A major lesson learnt from Cyclone Seroja that hit the coast of Kalbarri last year was that the EHD could be better prepared to promptly and effectively assist in emergency response. As a result, the EHD have established an Emergency Response Unit. In line with the State Health Emergency Response Plan the primary role of the unit is to provide support to Local Government Environmental Health Officers in emergency management and recovery situations. Local governments can contact the on-call duty officer to request support. Further resources to support EHOs include: 

Smoke from bushfires and prescribed burns, also known as landscape fires, can cause a range of health effects, particularly in vulnerable people such as the elderly, young, and those with pre-existing illness. The Department of Health is interested in knowing the extent to which smoke from landscape fires (bushfires and planned burns) is observed, and are conducting a study about smoke in Perth and the SouthWest. Using the Airtracker app (external site) the Department are hoping to track where smoke is observed and if this is causing any health problems. The new Userguide provides instructions on how to use the app. If you live in Perth or the South West and you want to participate in the smoke tracking study, download the app onto your mobile phone. 

Medical Entomology has released the mosquito-borne disease quarterly reports for July to September 2021: 

Recognise a colleague, raise your teams’ Environmental Health profile and promote your profession. The Awards provide Environmental Health Officers with a great opportunity to be recognised for the outstanding work EHO's do protecting the community’s health. Nominate your ‘colleague’ or a ‘team’ for an Award. There are four Awards up for grabs:

The process is simple, just complete and submit the online nomination form before the 6^th January 2022.

End of year shut down
The EHD and the Department of Health Royal Street office will be closed between Xmas and New years, Monday December 27th to Tuesday 4th January 2022. Although the EHD switchboard will be operational during business hours on the non-public holidays (29-30) there will be limited staff during this time. An on-call duty officer will be available to support management of urgent high risk environmental health issues. This e-News will not be released during January but will start again in February 2022. Read the PathWest reminder about their closure times during the holiday period. From everyone at the Environmental Health Directorate, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe and peaceful new year. 

The Environmental Health teams from the Leschenault CLAG (Shires of Harvey and Dardanup and the City of Bunbury), held a Fight the Bite display at the Brunswick Show on 23 October. This was a great opportunity to talk with residents from the south west and Perth regarding mosquito issues and how best they can protect themselves from being bitten. There was a huge crowd at the show and the display was very popular throughout the day with the friendly mozzie team providing Fight the Bite giveaways like keep cups, water bottles, reusable shopping bags and insect repellent. Kids especially loved the chance to look at larvae and adult mosquitoes through the microscopes and have a mosquito (temporary) tattoo. Check out the photos 1, photo 2, photo 3.

The City of Busselton Environmental Health Team continues to produce a range of educational videos to help raise community awareness about the City's mosquito aerial treatment program. View Rochelle Fredericks, EHO, providing a quick update on Busselton's treatment program.