Protracted Tuberculosis Outbreak in a Pasifika Diaspora in Western Sydney, Australia: The Importance of Community Engagement

Archana Koirala; Katherine Smith; Philip N Britton; Annaleise R Howard-Jones; Vitali Sintchenko; Ellen J Donnan; Evan Ulbricht; Elena Martinez; Reta Toma; Ben J Marais

doi:10.1093/infdis/jiae619

Protracted Tuberculosis Outbreak in a Pasifika Diaspora in Western Sydney, Australia: The Importance of Community Engagement

J Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 11;231(6):1532-1535. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiae619.

Authors

Archana Koirala^{1

2

3

4}, Katherine Smith⁵, Philip N Britton^{2

3}, Annaleise R Howard-Jones^{2

3}, Vitali Sintchenko^{2

6}, Ellen J Donnan^{2

7}, Evan Ulbricht^{7

8}, Elena Martinez⁶, Reta Toma⁵, Ben J Marais^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.
² Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ Tuberculosis Control, Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, New South Wales Health Pathology-Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ Health Protection New South Wales, Health System Support Group, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
⁸ Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Department, Liverpool Hospital, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.

PMID: 39785137
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae619

Abstract

A prolonged tuberculosis outbreak, linked by whole-genome sequencing, occurred in a Pasifika extended family over 10 years (2013-2022) in Sydney, Australia. Despite Australia's low tuberculosis incidence, social and cultural complexities, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disruptions exacerbated transmission. Control required culturally sensitive, family-centered care and robust health system engagement.

Keywords: Pacific Islander health; Pasifika; TB; tuberculosis; whole-genome sequencing.

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MeSH terms

Adult
Australia / epidemiology
COVID-19 / epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
New South Wales / epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2
Tuberculosis* / epidemiology
Tuberculosis* / transmission
Whole Genome Sequencing