Environmental management.
Water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever kill more children worldwide each year than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. These diseases are the second most common cause of death in children under the age of five.
Edith Cowman University scientists are at the forefront of the fight against these diseases in the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on the island nation of Fiji.
Unlike traditional medical research, the team from ECU's School of Science is focused on positively impacting human health through environmental management.
Traditional approaches focused on the human aspect of disease and ignored environmental and social factors. But they just don't work.
A growing problem in a changing climate
Outbreaks of waterborne diseases are increasing in Fiji and other developing countries and are being exacerbated by changing environmental conditions.
Severe weather events are becoming more frequent as global climate changes and these weather events, such as tropical cyclones and monsoon downpours, often trigger disease outbreaks.
Since 2005, Fiji has experienced more than 20 outbreaks of typhoid, as well as large outbreaks of other water-related diseases such as dengue fever and leptospirosis.
These outbreaks present significant public health challenges following tropical cyclones, where the resulting extensive damage to the environment and infrastructure places additional pressure on local health systems.
Water-borne diseases are the second leading cause of death for children under five.
Since 2005, there have been more than 20 outbreaks of typhoid in Fiji.
The balance of the environment and human health
Dr Aaron Jenkins from ECU's School of Science says his research is about working in a balanced way by managing the environment, conserving biodiversity and changing the health and wellbeing of local communities.
"A hundred years ago, it was really trendy in scientific circles to look for typhoid in the environment, but most research now focuses on treating the disease in humans," he said.
We hope to change the way communities and policymakers think about preventing infectious disease outbreaks.
"We hope to change the way communities and policymakers think about preventing infectious disease outbreaks."
Dr. Jenkins' work is primarily focused on Fiji, but has applications in low- and middle-income countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
These countries are particularly affected by water-borne diseases such as typhoid and leptospirosis, along with animal-borne vector-borne diseases such as mosquitoes, such as dengue fever.
"These water-related diseases are particularly affected by environmental conditions and changes," Dr Jenkins said.
In the case of typhoid, that means looking at how deforestation, erosion and flooding in watersheds can lead to an increase in cases in surrounding areas.
Global recognition
Research by Dr. Jenkins has attracted worldwide attention from major charitable groups and financial institutions.
While still a graduate student at ECU, Dr Jenkins was invited to present his research to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dr Jenkins was invited to present his research to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
This presentation helped facilitate the announcement of a global grand call to explore the environmental niches of typhus
Of the 1,500 applications for funding under this call, only 10 were accepted, and Dr Jenkins is an investigator for three of them.
Dr Jenkins is also a key investigator on several major international grants from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Well come Trust and UNICEF .
Water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever kill more children worldwide each year than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. These diseases are the second most common cause of death in children under the age of five.
Edith Cowan University scientists are at the forefront of the fight against these diseases in the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on the island nation of Fiji.
Unlike traditional medical research, the team from ECU's School of Science is focused on positively impacting human health through environmental management.
Traditional approaches focused on the human aspect of disease and ignored environmental and social factors. But they just don't work.
A growing problem in a changing climate
Outbreaks of waterborne diseases are increasing in Fiji and other developing countries and are being exacerbated by changing environmental conditions.
Severe weather events are becoming more frequent as global climate changes and these weather events, such as tropical cyclones and monsoon downpours, often trigger disease outbreaks.
Since 2005, Fiji has experienced more than 20 outbreaks of typhoid, as well as large outbreaks of other water-related diseases such as dengue fever and leptospirosis.
These outbreaks present significant public health challenges following tropical cyclones, where the resulting extensive damage to the environment and infrastructure places additional pressure on local health systems .
Water-borne diseases are the second leading cause of death for children under five.
Since 2005, there have been more than 20 outbreaks of typhoid in Fiji.
The balance of the environment and human health
Dr Aaron Jenkins from ECU's School of Science says his research is about working in a balanced way by managing the environment, conserving biodiversity and changing the health and wellbeing of local communities.
"A hundred years ago, it was really trendy in scientific circles to look for typhoid in the environment, but most research now focuses on treating the disease in humans," he said.
We hope to change the way communities and policymakers think about preventing infectious disease outbreaks.
"We hope to change the way communities and policymakers think about preventing infectious disease outbreaks."
Dr. Jenkins' work is primarily focused on Fiji, but has applications in low- and middle-income countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
These countries are particularly affected by water-borne diseases such as typhoid and leptospirosis, along with animal-borne vector-borne diseases such as mosquitoes, such as dengue fever.
"These water-related diseases are particularly affected by environmental conditions and changes," Dr Jenkins said.
In the case of typhoid, that means looking at how deforestation, erosion and flooding in watersheds can lead to an increase in cases in surrounding areas.
Global recognition
Research by Dr. Jenkins has attracted worldwide attention from major charitable groups and financial institutions.
While still a graduate student at ECU, Dr Jenkins was invited to present his research to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dr Jenkins was invited to present his research to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
This presentation helped facilitate the announcement of a global grand call to explore the environmental niches of typhus.
Of the 1,500 applications for funding under this call, only 10 were accepted, and Dr Jenkins is an investigator for three of them.
Dr Jenkins is also a key investigator on several major international grants from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Wellcome Trust and UNICEF.
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