The Medical journal of Australia
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To determine the level of immunity to hepatitis A virus infection in rural Australian Aboriginal populations in the "Top End" of the Northern Territory. ⋯ Hepatitis A is hyperendemic in the rural Aboriginal communities studied and the virus is acquired predominantly in the first five years of life. Symptomatic hepatitis A infection is uncommon in this population. We suggest that hepatitis A vaccination for rural Aboriginal children is not indicated as it would not reduce clinical disease rates and may produce a cohort whose immunity could decrease over the following 10 years. Although vaccination is appropriate for non-immune individuals working in remote communities, emphasis must be placed on the inequities in health infrastructure and education underlying the high transmission rates in Aboriginal children.
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To investigate the relationship between motivational factors and physical and biological causes of heat exhaustion in fun run entrants. ⋯ Information from this investigation will enable more effective targeting of educational prevention programs in The Sun-Herald City to Surf fun run and provide baseline data for monitoring the effectiveness of these programs to modify high risk behaviour by participants.
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To assess the demand for genetic testing for Huntington's disease among at-risk individuals and for prenatal testing among parents at risk of transmitting the disease, from January 1987 to March 1993. ⋯ The low uptake for testing is not surprising given the severity and untreatability of the illness. Careful monitoring is required, particularly of the effects on individuals told of their genetic status and of possible abuse of the information by third parties.