Pandemic Newsletter
20 January 2006
September and October 2005 were the months in which avian bird flu and influenza were "discovered" by Australia's media. They were the months in which the frequency of references to the word 'pandemic' exploded. This can be clearly seen in the graph below.
Most of the references in these two months focused on the threat of avian bird flu, and speculation about the scale of Australian deaths.
Since then, most of the coverage has concentrated on the following issues:
- scientific information about the threat, and how the avian bird flu virus could pass from birds to people
- outbreaks and human cases
- the Australian pandemic plan
- stockpiles and the effectiveness of planning measures
- efficacy of antivirals
The next few months will see the focus change. It general, the focus will shift from the big picture of threats and national planning to the micro-picture of preparation measures at the individual jurisdiction and organisation level. There will be a number of other common themes which can be expected and these include:
- assertions that governments, organisations and the public are over-reacting to the threat
- local stories about local preparation measures, such as body disposal, quarantine, stockpiles and designated influenza hospitals
- claims of inadequate preparation, particularly in the lead up to elections
- public comment about lack of anti-viral availability
- economic costs of pandemics
- reassurances about travelling overseas
- failure of the government to provide information to the public and medical profession
- influenza is a threat to national security
Two of the most important media issues for governments to manager will be:
- speculation that the usual winter spike in influenza is actually the forerunner of a new strain of influenza, and
- criticism by the community that not enough effort is being put into certain preventative measures which experts consider should not be supported given limited resources. This is really about deciding how much effort should be put into managing the actual risk and managing the risk perception.
Media coverage provides a useful barometer of public concern. Governments and pandemic experts need to continually monitor the media and rather than dismiss it as ill-informed, use it as a way to identify the issues which must be addressed in public education. When a new concern emerges, a rapid response by government is required to address it.
For ultimately, influenza is a public health issue with an emphasis on the public rather than just the health.
* Number of times the word 'pandemic' appeared in Australian newspapers.
The Commonwealth Government will provide $34.4 million over five years for the creation of a specialist unit within the Department of Health and Ageing to ensure Australia is able to provide a sustained health response in an emergency. The Office of Health Protection (OHP) will help ensure Australia remains one of the best prepared countries in the world to respond to a national health emergency like an influenza pandemic.
The new Office of Health Protection will
- lead national health activities preparing to respond to a possible pandemic or other health emergency
- manage the national medicines stockpile, including stocking and maintenance of all medicines and protective equipment including antivirals
- develop and manage a policy and legislation framework, including developing proposed National Health Security Legislation and implementing International Health Regulations
- establish principles and plans for support of essential services in the event of a pandemic or other health emergency
- operate an enhanced National Incident Room
- plan and implement strong border control measures aimed at keeping communicable diseases out of the country
- strengthen disease surveillance systems and contact tracing capacity
- build laboratory capacity to deal with existing and emerging communicable diseases
- enhance response to food-borne illness, and
- develop and implement a communication strategy on a possible flu pandemic
The Commonwealth Government has negotiated the purchase of 1.8 million additional courses of the influenza antiviral Relenza to add to the National Medical Stockpile in preparation for a possible influenza pandemic.
The World Health Organization has recommended that countries stockpile antivirals to provide one course for 25 per cent of the population.
Australia has one of the largest stockpiles of antivirals in the world. When the new supplies of Relenza plus the additional Tamiflu powder announced on the weekend are available and delivered, we will have enough antivirals to provide coverage for nearly 44 per cent of the Australian population.
Tamiflu and Relenza are both currently available treatments for flu which, it is hoped, will be effective for both prevention and treatment for exposed people during the first stages of an influenza pandemic until a vaccine is developed.
The new Relenza deliveries are expected to commence in April 2006 and be completed within 12 months.
NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Paul McLeay confirmed in late December that avian influenza in humans will be included on the State's list of notifiable diseases.
Mr McLeay said that notification was a reasonable way to help ensure that any cases of avian influenza in humans were identified and isolated should people develop the condition after travelling overseas.
From 16 December, the Public Health Act 1991 has been amended to include the following Regulation:
- to include avian influenza in humans in the list of medical conditions that must be notified by medical practitioners, hospitals and laboratories to the Department of Health Director General;
- to require a person suffering from avian influenza to take reasonable precautions against spreading the condition;
- to allow the Director General to order a person to undergo a medical examination if he or she suspects on reasonable grounds that the person is suffering from avian influenza; and
- to allow an authorised medical practitioner, who is satisfied on reasonable grounds that a person is suffering from avian influenza, to make a public health order in respect of the person.
Mr McLeay said listing avian influenza in humans was a precaution to ensure laws were in place to help public health officials monitor and contain the spread of disease, should it enter NSW.
ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Charles Guest today announced the launch of a new web page aimed at keeping the public informed about local issues relating to Bird Flu. The site is here.
On 8 December 2005, Victoria released the latest version of Victoria 's Influenza Pandemic Plan.
Speaking at the launch, the Premier Steve Bracks said Victoria 's teaching hospitals such as the Royal Melbourne, Monash Medical Centre and the Austin Hospital would be in the front-line if there was a pandemic, such as a bird flu pandemic.
Mr Bracks said in an extreme scenario, it was possible the Government would be forced to ban people from gathering at major sporting events, rock concerts, places of worship, the casino and other places where many people congregate in the same place.
A mass outbreak may force the Government to cancel all elective surgery operations, to free up extra capacity in the health system.
In the initial stages of an outbreak, the plan also outlines which groups would receive priority antivirals to reduce the effects of the illness.
The governing principles in the early stages of any pandemic would be to maximise the effectiveness of the available treatment. The plan is available from here.
The South Australian Government has moved to safeguard public health by listing avian influenza in humans and pandemic influenza as notifiable and controlled notifiable diseases under the Public and Environmental Health Act.
Health Minister John Hill says the move gives health authorities extra powers to control incidents of 'bird flu' in humans.
It means medical practitioners and laboratories will be required to formally report cases, or suspected cases, of avian influenza to the Health Department.
"It is critically important that the Health Department is notified as early as possible by both medical practitioners and laboratories who suspect they are seeing cases, so that contact tracing, surveillance and isolation can occur," Minister Hill said.
The Health Department is currently advising the state's medical practitioners and laboratories of their additional reporting obligations.
"While this move will result in additional regulation, it is more than justified in the interests of public health and safety," Minister Hill said.
The United Services Institute of ACT has arranged for a presentation on the "National Security Implications of the Avian Flu Pandemic" at the Australian Defence College Weston Creek on Wednesday, [date to be advised] commencing at 6.30pm in Spender Theatre. The speaker is Mr Christian Enemark from ANU, who is a member of the National Consultative Group on Biosecurity Issues.
Visitors are welcome. If they don't have a Government Photo ID/Security Pass which needs to be showed to gain access to the Australian Defence College, they you can make arrangements for entry by contacting the USI of ACT on 6266 2866 or 6266 2167 during business hours.
There will be snacks and drinks in the Officers Mess from 5.30pm
This one day forum provides practical preparation measures to deal with the panic arising from a feared outbreak as well as an actual epidemic and pandemic. It will be held on 31 March 2006 in Canberra. Information >>
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