DNA testing confirms identities of two airmen, more than 80 years after bomber crash

April 23, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic & Analytical Science Service (FASS) DNA laboratory has helped to identify the remains of two airmen on board a bomber that crashed off the coast of Papua New Guinea.

The Royal Australian Air Force has positively identified a Number 100 Squadron World War II Beaufort aircraft that was first reported missing in 1943, along with its four crew members.

The bomber was recently discovered in crocodile-infested waters off the coast of Papua New Guinea as a result of Australian businessman Andrew (Twiggy) Forrest’s search for his uncle, Flying Officer David Forrest, who was lost in the same area while piloting a similar aircraft in 1943.

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Robert Chipman said the crash site was first identified in 2020 and is located in 43 metres of water, which meant positively identifying the aircraft took considerable time and effort.

Specialist divers later recovered bone fragments from the fire-damaged wreckage that was also covered in layers of sediment and marine growth.

A hand sifts through marine debris on a large green net. — A representative from the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery assists in the sieving of material raised from the wreck of the WWII Beaufort aircraft. (Supplied: Royal Australian Air Force)

DNA was extracted from the bone material and analysed by Forensic Biology specialists at NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic & Analytical Science Service DNA laboratory along with reference samples provided by biological relatives of the missing airmen.

The recovered DNA profiles were then provided to the Historical Unrecovered War Casualties (HUWC) team.

Air Marshal Chipman said the RAAF’s HUWC team collated the evidence and a Defence Identification Board identified the remains as those of Warrant Officer Clement Batstone Wiggins and Warrant Officer Russell Henry Grigg.

“Unfortunately, it’s with a heavy heart we can confirm that no remains of the other two crew members, Flight Sergeant Albert Beckett and Flight Sergeant Gordon Lewis Hamilton, were recovered,” he said.

The crew of 100SQN Beaufort A9-186 was:

Warrant Officer Clement Batstone Wiggins. Born in Gatton, Queensland, he worked as a school teacher before enlisting in Brisbane in March 1941. Warrant Officer Wiggins was 28 years old when killed in action.
Warrant Officer Russell Henry Grigg. Born in Brisbane, Queensland, he worked as a fruit grower before enlisting in Brisbane in March 1941. Warrant Officer Grigg was 34 years old when killed in action.
Flight Sergeant Albert Beckett. Born in Launceston, Tasmania, he worked as an apprentice carpenter before enlisting in Tasmania in November 1941. Flight Sergeant Beckett was 22 years old when killed in action.
Flight Sergeant Gordon Lewis Hamilton. Born in Brisbane, Queensland, he worked as a baker’s assistant before enlisting in Brisbane in July 1941. Flight Sergeant Hamilton was 26 years old when killed in action.

An underwater photo of the fuselage of a plane on the sea floor. — The rear fuselage and tail of the wreck of the bomber that crashed off the coast of PNG in 1943. (Supplied: Royal Australian Air Force)

“No further recovery is planned for this challenging crash site,” Air Marshal Chipman said.

“A memorial service for the families of all four crew is being planned for 26 April 2024 at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.

“Thank you to all those involved in this significant mission; it is especially heart-warming for the families of the four aviators involved to finally know what happened and learn of their final resting place.”

NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic & Analytical Science Service Director, Michael Symonds (pictured above) said the organisation was proud to have played a part in the identification process.

“This outcome demonstrates the value of the DNA analyses undertaken by FASS in contributing to the identification of historic war casualties,” he said.

“Extraction of DNA and generation of DNA profiles from skeletal remains that have been exposed to extreme environmental impact is challenging and requires a range of specialist methods.

“FASS is recognised as a leader in the forensic field, utilising the latest forensic DNA technology.

“Our services and people enable us to provide the highest quality and reliability of results.”

Murray Valley encephalitis: summer is over but mosquito-borne disease remains a risk in northern Australia

April 12, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Cooler temperatures are fading our memories of summer and reducing numbers of mosquitoes in southern parts of Australia. But up north, warmer temperatures and plenty of rain will keep mosquitoes active.

While their bites are annoying, more concerning is the diseases mosquitoes carry. Health authorities have recently warned local communities and travellers heading to the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of Western Australia to be vigilant to the risk of one particular mosquito-borne infection – Murray Valley encephalitis.

Which mosquito-borne diseases are a risk?

Australia is fortunate to be generally free of many of the world’s most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases.

Each year globally, malaria can cause hundreds of thousands of deaths and dengue infects hundreds of millions of people. While these two diseases aren’t a high risk in Australia, we do have a number of viruses spread by mosquitoes that can cause severe and potentially fatal illness.

Thousands of Australians are infected with Ross River or Barmah Forest virus each year, and while these diseases aren’t fatal, they can be debilitating. Symptoms can include fever, rash, joint pain and fatigue.

Authorities in Queensland and New South Wales have recently issued warnings about these diseases.

In recent years, we’ve seen increased activity of the Murray Valley encephalitis virus and the closely related Kunjin virus. This is due to explosions in mosquito numbers as a result of persistent flooding.

Murray Valley encephalitis virus cases in humans are rare but fatalities do occur. Kunjin virus, which has the potential to cause human disease, can also severely affect animals.

New mosquito-borne viruses have emerged in Australia, with widespread activity of Japanese encephalitis virus in southern regions of Australia recorded for the first time in 2021–22. This had significant impacts on human health, as well as economic consequences for the pork industry due to the reproductive losses resulting from infected pigs. The Australian government declared a communicable disease incident of national significance.

A close-up image of a mosquito on a grey surface.

Mosquitoes carry a variety of diseases. Cameron Webb (NSW Health Pathology)

Why is Murray Valley encephalitis so dangerous?

Murray Valley encephalitis virus is one of the most dangerous pathogens spread by mosquitoes in Australia. The virus belongs to the flavivirus family alongside Japanese encephalitis, dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses; the most important mosquito-borne viruses on the planet.

The virus is only spread by mosquito bite (it doesn’t spread from person to person). Mosquitoes, most notably a common Australian species Culex annulirostris, transmit the virus to humans. This species is found in freshwater habitats and acquires the virus from biting a waterbird.

Most people infected don’t get sick – perhaps as few as one in 1,000 develop symptoms. For those who do, these can range from fever and headache to paralysis and encephalitis (swelling of the brain).

Symptoms are variable but fatality rates for people with symptomatic disease can be up to 30%, with up to 50% of people experiencing permanent neurological complications requiring life-long medical care.

From Australian X disease to Murray Valley encephalitis

While Murray Valley encephalitis virus can be found in many parts of Australia, outbreaks in south-eastern Australia have caused the most concern, especially throughout the Murray Darling Basin region, due to the high human population. That said, activity in other regions is still a worry.

The virus is thought to have been causing an illness known as “Australian X disease” since at least the early 1900s. The most significant outbreak was in 1974, resulting in 58 cases.

During the summer of 2022–23, the virus was detected in mosquito and sentinel chicken surveillance programs in NSW, Victoria and South Australia. A total of 26 human cases were reported across Australia in 2023 after only a handful of cases since 2011, which saw 16 cases.

There’s been no evidence that Murray Valley encephalitis virus is present along the east coast of Australia. Activity of the virus is generally limited to regions west of the Great Dividing Range.

A mosquito trap comprised of a black bucket, battery operated motor and a plastic collection container.

Health authorities across Australia use mosquito traps to help monitor viruses such as Murray Valley encephalitis. Cameron Webb (NSW Health Pathology)

What about northern Australia?

Murray Valley encephalitis is considered endemic in northern Australia. It’s detected almost every year in health surveillance programs in WA and the Northern Territory.

Human cases occur too. Although fewer people live in these regions, northern Australia (including tourists visiting the area) has accounted for most cases of Murray Valley encephalitis over the past 30 years.

Surveillance is critical to provide an early warning of elevated outbreak risk. In the north of WA, health authorities have detected Murray Valley encephalitis virus in local mosquito populations and their sentinel chicken surveillance program. This prompted the recent warnings for the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.

However, no cases of human infection have been reported this year.

How can the community and travellers protect themselves?

While activity of Murray Valley encephalitis virus across northern Australia should be expected every year, the recent warnings are a reminder of the potential health risk associated with mosquitoes.

With no vaccination available for Murray Valley encephalitis – and no cure – the only way to prevent becoming infected is to avoid mosquito bites. Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing, avoiding peak mosquito activity times around dawn or dusk, and using a suitable insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus are effective ways to help prevent bites.

Andrew Jardine and Jay Nicholson from the Department of Health, Western Australia, contributed expert advice to this article.

Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

“Our work is like solving diagnostic puzzles”

April 11, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Meet Dr Leili Moayed Alaei, an Anatomical Pathology Registrar at our Royal Prince Alfred Hospital laboratory.

Leili works at our newly redeveloped Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology Department at RPA and has been with NSW Health Pathology for five years.

“Our work is like solving diagnostic puzzles. We have a crucial role in patient care, even though we are often hidden behind closed doors,” she says.

“We provide critical information on diagnosis, disease progression and prognosis that directs clinical care.”

She says her typical day begins with attending a morning tutorial, during which the consultants share interesting cases.

“As registrars, we have three different duties: macroscopic examination and dissection of specimens, holding the fresh/frozen phone and reporting cases. Each day, I’ll be assigned to one of these duties.”

On cut days, registrars are dealing with a wide range of specimens from small biopsies to more complicated cases like pelvic exenteration or leg amputation.

“Handling the specimens requires knowledge of anatomy and pathology, along with an understanding of staging and prognostic features to ensure that sampled tissue adequately demonstrates these aspects,” Leili explains.

“On our reporting days we have an opportunity to report these cases alongside our consultants.”

What is a frozen section? We’re glad you asked!

“Frozen sections are often performed during surgical procedures to provide rapid diagnostic information to guide the surgeon’s next steps such as assessing margin status or making diagnoses. The tissue is quickly frozen, processed, and evaluated shortly afterward. This is all happening while the patient is still undergoing surgery.”

A woman in a laboratory wearing a lab coat and protective eye glasses smiles at Health Minister Ryan Park who is looking at the workspace. — Leili met the NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park when he toured the new laboratory at RPA in March 2024.

Leili says she loves the variety of tasks, as well as working alongside consultants and attending multi-disciplinary team meetings.

“I love the camaraderie within our pathology team – we are like a family, always ready to support each other,” she said.

“The sense of being part of a team that plays such a vital role in healthcare is deeply rewarding and fulfilling.”

The team at the lab even takes time out to socialise after work.

“We have a WhatsApp group for our RPA crew, which includes some of our consultants, scientists, and registrars. We regularly organise outings for dinner, movies, and other recreational activities together.”

Leili says one of the hardest parts of the job is preparing for anatomic pathology specialist exams, alongside her clinical duties.

“It’s one of the trickiest parts of the job. However, with a solid team to support each other, it becomes much more manageable.”

Leili says if she could learn something new, it would be working with electron microscopy!

Going solar at FASS Lidcombe!

March 27, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Work is nearing completion on a project to install 557 solar panels and a battery storage system at the Forensic Medicine & Coroners Court Complex at Lidcombe.

We’re excited to be part of this fantastic sustainability initiative led by our Forensic & Analytical Science Service (FASS).

In 2022, NSW Health Pathology commissioned a study on the potential for solar power at the newly opened Forensic Medicine & Coroners Court Complex (FMCCC).

It found the building had enough roof space to accommodate a 348kw solar panel system, generating an average of 423,700 kilowatt hours of power each year.

Once the system is fully functioning, we are expecting a 20% reduction in our annual power bills for the site and to save an average of 88 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

Work on the project kicked off in December 2023 and includes a solar power back-up battery specifically for the Forensic Medicine service to provide power to critical equipment after business hours.

FASS Facilities Services Coordinator, Renae Currer says a massive crane arrived on site in January this year to begin the task of lifting the hundreds of panels and other equipment onto the roof.

A large red crane lifts a wooden crate in the car park of the FMCCC. — Lifting the panels into place in January 2024.

“Our building occupants were really excited to see this work starting,” Renae said.

“We even had children from around the neighbourhood watching on as the crane swung into action.

“We’ve found this sort of project has a lot of buy-in from our people, who are keen to see the organisation leading the way when it comes to environmental sustainability.”

The contractors worked throughout the end of a very hot summer, laying all the necessary cables, trays and all 557 solar panels on the various roof spaces at the FMCCC.

External works are now complete, and the system is now awaiting connection to the grid and testing.

We’d especially like to thank our colleagues at the Department of Communities and Justice for their cooperation and assistance in planning the roof works, and for their understanding during some of the noisiest periods of work!

The solar project is set to be complete by the end of June 2024, when all agencies within the facility will benefit from solar power onsite.

Heartfelt thanks for John Hunter Hospital chemical pathologist

March 19, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

A patient has reached out to express his thanks to one of our chemical pathologists, who became so concerned at his blood results, he called an ambulance in the middle of the night.

Craig Murphy lives on a rural property in the Upper Hunter Valley. He’d been feeling sick for a few weeks in early 2024 when he went for a blood test at NSW Health Pathology’s Murrurundi Hospital collection centre to find out what was going on.

His results came to the attention of the after-hours Chemical Pathologist Dr Richard Ruddell at our John Hunter Hospital laboratory in Newcastle.

The lab has a big rural catchment, supervising laboratories at Armidale, Glen Innes, Inverell, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Taree, and Coffs Harbour hospitals.

“This can sometimes make contacting patients rather tricky,” Richard said.

“I think in this case, the Tamworth lab had trouble contacting this patient’s GP, so as the on-call Chemical Pathologist I was called to assess the severity and urgency of the biochemical abnormality.

“The blood results showed his potassium was worryingly high and his phone was switched off, so I had to pull out all the stops and send an ambulance to get him urgent care.”

Richard said the ambulance crew were “the real stars”, eventually managing to locate Craig’s rural property at around midnight with very little information to go on.

“I think they had to knock and ask at several nearby residences before they found him,” Richard said.

Craig Murphy called Richard back in the morning to thank him for checking on his welfare and Richard was able to persuade him to go to the hospital and get his potassium levels looked into.

“The pathologist took my phone call as he was having his coffee the next morning,” Craig said.

“What a kind and thoughtful person he is. I want to pass on my heartfelt appreciation for the amazing service he provided. He went above and beyond, and I think he probably saved my life.

“I am feeling much better now and have reorganised my medications which were causing the problem.”

Richard insists it’s all part of the job but was chuffed to hear that Craig was on the mend.

“Even though the lab is somewhat detached from the direct patient interactions, I think of all the residents of the Hunter, New England and Mid North Coast as my patients,” he explains.

“We do what it takes to get them the care they need even if that means calling them late at night or sending an ambulance to their home if it’s needed.”

Take a look inside our new Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology Department at RPA!

March 17, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

The Minister for Health Ryan Park has officially opened the Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology Department at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, part of the NSW Government’s $940m hospital redevelopment.

Patients across Sydney and beyond are benefitting from NSW Health Pathology’s new state-of-the-art Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology department that has been officially opened as part of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) Redevelopment.

The new Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology Department, which began operating in November 2023, is delivering high-quality, future-focused care for patients, while providing staff with the latest design, equipment and system capabilities to manage growing demand.

The purpose-built department replaces the former facility at RPA, which last year processed over 48,000 patient samples for a variety of cancer diagnostic tests.

It features state-of-the-art equipment to perform the latest cancer diagnostic testing and report on clinical cases, resulting in improved turnaround times and improved patient care.

The Minister was shown the technology that allows our pathologists to connect via audio-visual link to RPA’s surgeons while they are operating, to give an immediate diagnosis.

The Minister looking at a microscope, while a surgeon appears on a video screen in the background. — The Minister is shown the technology that allows pathologists to communicate with surgeons as they operate.

The new location brings together the Anatomical Pathology and Cytology teams, taking them closer to the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, which will mean better response times for urgent testing of samples for cancer patients.

Chief Executive of NSW Health Pathology Vanessa Janissen said the new facility was a game-changer for better patient care.

“As the role of personalised medicine expands and starts to become routine care, we are seeing increasing demand and complexity in anatomical pathology and cytology, and these facilities mean our teams at RPA are well placed to help meet this emerging clinical need,” Ms Janissen said.

“The refurbished facility is also the workplace of 2024 Joint Australian of the Year, Professor Richard Scolyer, a world-leading melanoma pathologist whose work has helped to transform treatments and patient outcomes for this deadly form of skin cancer.”

At the opening ceremony, Ms Janissen thanked the many people who worked to ensure the NSW Health Pathology laboratory was commissioned on time.

“To our team’s credit, our services kept going and moved in stages to minimise impact of the move on services and our patients,” she said.

“I heard stories of staff coming in on their weekends to coordinate the movement of equipment, personal items and ensure a seamless transition.

“Thank you to Professor James Kench, Local Pathology Director and Professor Ruta Gupta, Clinical Director – who have been instrumental in leading and overseeing this lab from the early concept plans to the world class facility we have today,” Ms Janissen said.

Ruta Gupta in a laboratory being interviewed by a man holding a news microphone. — Prof Ruta Gupta being interviewed by a Seven News journalist at the official opening.

“Also Bobby Dimitrijovski, Senior Operations Manager, who has led our local team in such a collaborative way, and really brought all the stakeholders together.

“Thanks to Kris Avery, former Lab Manager and Carlie Wiersma, current Lab Manager, who have provided incredible support to the team during all stages of the move.

“Thank you also to Dinah Constantine from our planning team – your expertise was vital to the move being such a success.

“We are also so grateful to Health Infrastructure and RPA Redevelopment team, especially Samar Zakaria, Katherine Bennett, Kristina Zarkos, Eve Laing and Meenal Sharma, and to Brad Miller from Barpa Builders.

“The last few years have been an extraordinary time for all who work in health, including our dedicated pathology staff who have worked tirelessly to meet the extraordinary demand. Everyone in our health system has continued to show great resilience and innovation.

“I know this refurbished facility and enhanced space will bring many benefits to patients and their loved ones facing some of their biggest challenges, and I thank everyone involved for their dedication and commitment,” Ms Janissen said.