Boost for pandemic research

THE COVID-19 pandemic has forced researchers like Dr Michael Meehan to devise more effective ways of modelling the spread of disease to improve our preparedness and response to future outbreaks.

In the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in April last year, the JCU epidemiologist used mathe m a t i c a l modelling to support a hardline elimination strategy w where the infection curve should be “squashed” – something Australia was successful in achieving.

The lesser-known roles of virus super spreaders and asymptomatic carriers have challenged these traditional modelling techniques.

Last year Dr Meehan (pictured) pitched a research proposal in which genetic data would be incorporated into routine infectious diseases models to better estimate the true size of future outbreaks.

He was successful, receiving a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award and $365,000 to fund the project over the next three years, allowing him to fund a PHD student to assist with the research.

“The goal of the project is to enable more rapid and more effective identification and control of infectious disease outbreaks,” Dr Meehan said.

“Because traditional infectious disease modelling is over 100 years old, it’s fairly well developed, whereas this newer genetic-driven infectious diseases modelling is less mature.

“We’re hoping to bring a lot of those developments and refinements that exist in the traditional field across to this genetic-based field.”

Using genomic-driven infectious diseases modelling, he said it was possible to uncover details about how the pathogen was transmitted, how fast it was evolving and whether it could escape host immunity or evade vaccination.

A YOUNG man is barred from the roads for the next four years after he was caught behind the wheel without a licence.

Jesse Edward James on Thursday faced the Townsville Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified by a court order and driving without a licence.

Police prosecutor Peter Obermayer said the 20-year-old was pulled over for a random breath test and licence check at Fulham Road in Vincent on January 21 after officers saw the car driving without a front licence plate.

Mr Obermayer said officers soon realised James was disqualified.

Less than a week later police intercepted James driving. He told police he did not have a licence.

Mr Obermayer said it was his third type two unlicensed driving offence.

Defence lawyer Troydon Maltby said his client had no criminal history and only got behind the wheel to help his family.

“He acknowledges that he did not have any lawful reason for driving but simply to provide some context there was no one else at home available to drive,” he said.

“His aunt’s car had been left at an undesirable location. He attended to remove it from that area and take it back to his aunt’s house.”

Mr Maltby said that on the second occasion he was returning a car to his mother, who could not drive due to intoxication.

Magistrate Scott Luxton said he had no alternative but to disqualify James from driving for the next four years.

“People who keep offending for offences such as this … will very quickly find themselves in the circumstances where the court considers imprisonment as a means of deterrence,” he said.

He fined James $1500 and disqualified him from holding a licence for four years.

Convictions were recorded.