Pandemic Influenza
Influenza pandemics occur when a new strain of influenza virus develops to which humans have little or no immunity. It spreads easily from person to person around the world and may cause more serious illness compared to "normal", seasonal influenza. History suggests that such pandemics occur every 10-50 years. The last influenza pandemic, the "Hong Kong 'flu", occurred in 1968 and was far milder than the "Spanish flu" of 1918-19, causing an estimated 1 million deaths worldwide
Planning now can help protect people and lesson the effects when an influenza pandemic occurs, and is ongoing at the international, national and state level.
The Public Health Unit contributes to planning at both the state and area health service level with particular involvement in the public health aspects of the South Eastern Sydney & Illawarra Area Health Pandemic Influenza Plan. Specific public health activities in which planning and preparation have been undertaken include:
- case finding, contact tracing and management
- surveillance
- public health workforce surge capacity
- mass community vaccination clinic procedures
- deployment of the stockpile, particularly antiviral medication and vaccines
- preparation for and participation in pandemic influenza exercises
- quarantine and border control
- liaising with health care facilities and Divisions of General Practice
The Public Health Unit has representation on the following committees and working groups:
- The Area Executive Influenza Pandemic Steering Committee
- The Northern, Central and Southern Influenza Pandemic Steering Committees
- NSW Health Biopreparedness Network Working Groups
- NSW Steering Committee for Influenza Pandemic Exercises
- NSW Quarantine and Border Control Working Group
- NSW Microbiology Laboratory Network
- Commonwealth Primary Health Care Working Group
Other Useful Sites
NSW Health Pandemic Preparedness website
Disclaimer: The links above are to agencies and other organisations that contain useful information. These links do not imply any endorsement, support or commercial gain by South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service or NSW Health Services or the State of New South Wales. See our Disclaimer for more information.