Publications

h1n1 influenza alert (human swine flu)

Please find below links for processes and procedures to follow for H1N1 Influenza
(Human Swine Flu). Please read these procedures carefully.

ACT Updates

22 July 2009
H1N1 Influenza '09 Update - Diagnostic testing and anti-viral medication
Diagnostic testing and anti-viral medication during the PROTECT phase of the Influenza pandemic.

During the PROTECT phase of the response to H1N1 influenza '09, laboratory testing of most people with respiratory symptoms is not needed. This is because laboratory confirmation of H1N1 Influenza '09 is required neither to begin isolation of patients nor for appropriate use of anti-viral medications in most people at present.

Testing will only be performed in limited circumstances where it might assist clinical management. Examples include a need to rule out other causes of cough and fever such as whooping cough, if the patient is a health care worker, or where the patient has severe disease that may require hospitalisation.

Anti-viral medication (Tamiflu(tm)) from the ACT Medical Stockpile is being prioritised for those who meet specific criteria. This includes symptomatic people who:
* Have moderate to severe illness; or
* Have been identified as being vulnerable to severe infection with H1N1 Influenza '09 including:
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
* Pregnant women
* Persons with morbid obesity
* Persons with chronic respiratory conditions
* Persons with other chronic conditions that may predispose them to severe infection.

Your GP may, under limited circumstances, make a clinical decision to provide you with a private prescription for Tamiflu(tm) if you do not meet the above criteria. If your GP does provide you with a private prescription for Tamiflu(tm) you will be required to purchase the antiviral at your own expense. Please note that Tamiflu(tm) is not recommended during the PROTECT phase for contacts of confirmed cases.

The management of patients with influenza-like-illness in the ACT is in accordance with national guidelines produced by the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia.

Dr Charles Guest
Chief Health Officer
22 July 2009

17 July 2009
Update from ACT Health to Principals
The link above is a letter to principals from ACT Health indicating that schools will no longer be notified of individual cases of H1N1 Influenza. Note that principals are requested to notify the Health Protection Service if you identify more than 3 cases of flu-like illness in staff or students in a single class within a 3 day period.

Schools are no longer required to provide information about suspected or confirmed cases to the Catholic Education Office.

1 July 2009
Principal Alert - Information for Human Swine Flu

29 June 2009
Dear Principals, Please find below further Update on Swine Flu. Please note contact numbers.

The PROTECT phase of the national response to H1N1 Influenza 09 (swine flu) was announced on17 June 2009. The current focus is to protect vulnerable members of our community from severe consequences of this new disease while acknowledging that, fortunately, swine flu is mild in most people. Vulnerable groups include pregnant women, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, and those with chronic respiratory and other conditions that may reduce immuinity.

The average person working in an office or trade environment is not at any particular risk of becoming infected with this virus. As always, if you are unwell, particularly if you are coughing or sneezing, you should stay away from work until symptoms resolve.

Anyone concerned about influenza should contact healthdirect (telephone 1800 022 222), their General Practitioner or the Australian Government Human Swine Influenza hotline (180 2007).

Those who are in vulnerable groups may need to be more vigilant if working in, or attending, health-care settings. The Communicable Diseases Network Australia has prepared guidelines "H1N1 Guidance for Health Care workers at increased risk of complications" available at www.healthemergency.gov.au (click on Health Professionals and scroll down until you see this title). If you need to, please discuss your personal situation with your supervisor.

Dr Charles Guest
Chief Health Officer
29 June 2009

18 June 2009
ACT Department of Education and Training Swine Flu FAQ's

Update to ACT Department of Education and Training website

Information for Principals regarding changes to Human Swine Flu
Control Measures

Information for parents regarding changes to Human Swine Flu
Control Measures

18 June 2009
Moving to PROTECT
ACT Health is in the process of moving to the new PROTECT response phase to the H1N1 Influenza 09 virus as announced by the Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon.

This new PROTECT response phase recognises that H1N1 Influenza 09 is not as severe as originally envisaged. In most cases the disease is mild, and most people have made a complete and rapid recovery.

The main difference between the previous CONTAIN phase and PROTECT is that we will now target the people most vulnerable to severe outcomes. These include pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people with certain chronic conditions such as respiratory disease, heart disease, diabetes, renal disease and morbid obesity.

Only people in these groups who have an acute respiratory illness, together with others with moderate or severe forms of disease will be given antiviral medication.

Those with the mild form of the disease will be asked to go into voluntary home isolation. Their contacts will not need to go into quarantine.

Under PROTECT there will also be increased monitoring of severe disease resulting in hospital admissions as a result of H1N1 Influenza 09 infection.

People can minimise the chances of being infected or spreading H1N1 Influenza 09 by adopting good hygiene practices, including covering mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing and regular hand washing. Children should stay away from school and adults should not attend work when they have symptoms.

Dr Charles Guest
Chief Health Officer