The BioSIRT log (BLog) May 2009

Collaboration

New South Wales declared Emergency Ready.

Emergency ready means that the jurisdiction has made such preparations as necessary to con7irm that the next emergency response to occur in their jurisdiction will be managed using BioSIRT.

Preparations include setting up of infrastructure (technical environment) and training staff ] both Users and Administrators. Additionally, some jurisdictions are conducting their own trials and others are piloting or transitioning routine biosecurity activities from existing or manual systems to BioSIRT with a version of BioSIRT available, accessible and appropriately configured should an incursion take place.

Tasmania are to go live with the capture of Fruit Fly routine surveillance data. Following the successful pilot of two Fruit Fly trap runs around Hobart, DPIW has decided to expand the recording of Fruit Fly surveillance to the whole state for 600 trap sites. Tasmania runs an Area Freedom Fruit Fly campaign for their local fruit industries.

Consistency

The Karnal Bunt (KBU) release package was presented to the Nationa l BioSIRT Standards Committee (NBSC) meeting held in Perth. In the face]to]face meeting, the committee members were provided with a run]down on the KBU template in the BioSIRT environment.

The NBSC also approved a new strategy for template development for Standards Committee Working Groups (SWG) based on generic templates.

To prepare for a range of potential threats, a generic set of templates will be developed. These will be based on templates built by SWGs. Once a template is complete, it is converted to a generic template, with one for each category, and loaded to the National Template Reference Library.

The diseases listed for each category are listed below.

New Training Server

The National Coordination Team has taken delivery of an Independent Emergency Field Server (IEFS) installed on a laptop for use primarily as a portable server for delivery of national training.

The IEFS pictured (centre) has a router for connection to other computers by ethernet (left) or wireless connection (right), while allowing digital projection.

This IEFS server supports connections for up to 12 laptops without degradation of service. The Server was First used in Perth for Spatial training and will be in use in Brisbane for Administrator training.

The Application

Prioritisation of application enhancements was completed at the face]to]face National BioSIRT Development Committee (NBDC) meeting held in Hobart.

NBDC 7inalised the content for development in Version1.2, due for delivery on 25 May, 2009.

Plans for the thorough testing of BioSIRT Version 1.2 by a Development Committee working group have been put in place to ensure a smooth roll out on 25th May.
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Training

Orange was alive with BioSIRT with 32 users trained for NSW DPI, by the National Coordination Team, in conjunction with the NSW BioSIRT Administrator, Chris McIvor.

There was a fantastic representation across all sectors, including plants, pest and animals. We had excellent input from IT and Mapping personnel and Emergency Response team members. The training was well received by all and
there were a few budding Administrators located.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) Workshop for BioSIRT Administrators was held in Perth.

The workshop concentrated on improving the general knowledge of Administrators in spatial concepts and the utilisation of various map layer types to be associated with templates.

The outcomes of the workshop will be used to develop training materials for advanced Administrator training.

Fruit Fly surveillance induction training for NAQS, was carried out in Cairns for Surveillance in Torres Strait.

Following finalisation and the piloting, the User Training Materials were presented to the National BioSIRT Standards Committee and received approval.

.. New Faces ..

Lisa Kerr (pictured left)

I have recently joined the National BioSIRT Coordination Team after working for the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy(NAQS) within AQIS. Prior to this, I studied Medical Science at Queensland University of Technology, and then worked in Brisbane and London in a variety of laboratory environments hospital, research and forensic.

I met my husband (a native Canberran) in London and we moved back to Australia after the three-year working holiday. We set up home in Canberra and now have a baby girl. We have been here in Canberra for four years and enjoy the easier pace of life. I am excited to be part of the BioSIRT team.

My role will be Lead Researcher for BioSIRT templates.

Karen Absolon (pictured right)

After more than six years with the AQIS, the majority of that time with NAQS, I have joined the National Coordination Team.

Although not born and bred in Canberra, I’ve now lived within the capital for 11 years. My original motivation for the move to Canberra was to study for a Bachelor of Science (Natural Resource and Environmental Management) at ANU, but after completing my degree and meeting my husband, Trent, Canberra was the place to be! Now as a mother of a 12 month-old little girl I am currently working three days a week. I am excited about being part of the BioSIRT team.

My role will be to coordinate the NBSC Working Groups.

Special Projects - Fruit Fly

The Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) has implemented a Fruit Fly pilot program for entry of Fruit Fly surveillance data into BioSIRT.

The Fruit Fly trap sites are located in the Torres Strait and represent the frontline in detection of exotic species of Fruit Fly regularly found to our north.

Fruit Fly operational reports have been finalised. These are based on Fruit Fly surveillance and include reports for 7inding traps where detections are made, finding traps not checked and the reasons why, test results from samples
submitted and outbreak notifications.

The Northern Territory jurisdictional Fruit Fly report has been completed under the National Fruit Fly Project (NFFP).