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News
12 October 2007
- Editorial: Equine influenza lessons
- Key influenza markers identified
- Auditor-General's report on influenza pandemic
- Sugar-based adjuvant studies
- Paper at Canberra's pandemic conference accepted by the Royal Society
- New report on business measures required for pandemic preparation
- Antigen sparing strategy to boost vaccine production
- Ventilator allocation guidelines
- New North American pandemic plan
- Lessons learned from pandemic exercise
- USA pandemic readiness criticised
- Malta Influenza Pandemic Plan launched
- New device to detect bird flu
- Pandemic History Proceedings
The recent outbreak of equine influenza in Australia has highlighted a number of key lessons that should be regarded when considering a future outbreak of human influenza of pandemic proportions.
Firstly, the fight for compensation started almost immediately after the outbreak. The compensated sector also showed that high profile activities and those with high turnovers attract priority attention.
Secondly, questions over the quarantine and vacinnation decisions were heard immediately, requiring considerable effort from the authorities.
Thirdly, the fight for vaccine supplies started immediately and very publically..
The horse flu outbreak has provided Australia with a small-scale preview of what could happen if a human influenza pandemic were to occur in Australia. Hopefully, we can learn from it.
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The Homeland Security Communications Group will hold a Pandemic Influenza Expo Day in Melbourne on 19 November.
The expo is designed to provide the latest knowledge on issues, products and services of importance to those responsible for workplace pandemic influenza measures.
Registration is free and a light lunch is provided.
Keynote speaker is
Dr Colin Johnston, Chief Medical Adviser, Commonwealth Bank on Occupational Perspective of Pandemic Planning
There will be a series of tabletop exhibits and presentations.
For further information and to register click here. |
Scientists at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis have identified the key features which distinguish human influenza from avian influenza.
The team identified 32 clear-cut changes in influenza viruses that differentiated a human flu from a bird flu.
These differences can then be monitored to measure when or if the H5N1 virus has adapted to a deadly human influenza virus.
The research, led by Dr Finkelstein, was published in the latest issue of the Journal of Virology.
The paper can be accessed here.
Auditor-General's report on influenza pandemics
The Australian National Audit Office has released a report into Australia 's preparedness for a human influenza pandemic.
The report praises Australia 's efforts so far, but reiterate the importance of continually testing and updating plans.
There were several recommendations in the report related to the National Medical Stockpile.
These included that ANAO recommends that the Department of Health and Ageing develop and implement procedures for:
- maintaining the content of the Stockpile;
- approving sub-contracting arrangements;
- monitoring compliance with supply and storage contracts; and
- undertaking site visits and stocktakes.
ANAO also recommended that the Department of Health and Ageing:
- undertake an assessment of the risks associated with deploying the Stockpile and incorporate this analysis and mitigation strategies in a National Medical Stockpile risk management plan;
- review and adequately test deployment plans in conjunction with states and territories; and
- review and update procedures to cover all elements of the response arrangements outlined in the Memoranda of Understanding with the State and Territory governments..
The full report can be accessed here.
Paper at Canberra's pandemic conference accepted by the Royal Society
Dr David J Philp’s paper presented at the Pandemic History Conference in Canberra on 13 June 2007, has been published in full by the Royal Society. The Royal Society, is the national academy of science of the UK and the Commonwealth. The paper is entitled Quantifying social distancing arising from pandemic influenza. The abstract is available here.
Ensuring your organisation and staff are prepared for a pandemic influenza outbeak. For more information and/or a demonstration on this online training course please contact Keanne Stephenson on 0412 472 766 or email keanne.stephenson@pandemic.net.au
Download the brochure here.
New report on business measures required for pandemic preparation
A new US report on pandemic planning was published has recently been published by the by Marsh and The Albright Group. It is aimed at the private sector and identifies the critical issues that companies must address as:
- Pandemics Are Inevitable
- Pandemics Will Spread Along Global Networks
- Complacency, Confusion Inhibit Planning
- Best Practices Have Emerged
- Public-Private Partnerships Should Be Improved
The report is available here.
On the UK’s BCP practitioners’ website ContinuityCentral, there has been a considerable discussion about the report being typical of the type that sensationalises pandemic planning leading to 'pandemic fatigue'. To read the full critique, see http://www.continuitycentral.com/news03501.htm.
Researchers from Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia have discovered that a natural sugar-based adjuvant could boost the effectiveness of current commercial flu vaccines.
According to Flinders Head of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Professor David Gordon, the addition of an adjuvant is critical for providing protection and conserving vaccine supplies during a pandemic as it reduces the amount of vaccine needed per person.
The Flinders team is currently undertaking clinical trials to test the adjuvant and are calling on people aged between 18-70 years who have not received a flu vaccine this year.
To take part in the study or for further information, contact Professor Gordon on (08) 8204 4720.
A team from Ghent University and Hospital have formed an antigen sparing adjuvant strategy which uses an oil in water emulsion adjuvant to allow the H5N1 vaccine to promote six times more bird influenza virus neutralising antibodies.
Trials have shown that the adjuvanted vaccine is significantly more immunogenic than the non-adjuvanted vaccine, although it did produce more injection-site symptoms.
The research can be accessed here.
Ensuring your organisation and staff are prepared for a pandemic influenza outbeak. A range of inhouse pandemic workplace training courses can be delivered within your organisation. These courses can be customised to suit the size and requirements of your workplace. For more information please contact Keanne Stephenson on 0412 472 766 or email keanne.stephenson@pandemic.net.au
Download the brochure here.
The New York State Department of Health has developed a set of draft guidelines for rationing mechanical ventilators during a severe influenza pandemic.
The guidelines were first released in March, but have received little public comment.
The guidelines can be read here.
Comments on the proposal may be sent to panflu@health.state.ny.us.
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America has published a new pandemic planning document in an effort to standardise pandemic planning on the continent.
The North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza outlines how Canada , Mexico and the United States intend to work together to combat an outbreak of avian influenza or an influenza pandemic in North America .
The Plan can be accessed here.
The UK Department of Health has published the lessons learned from its recent pandemic exercise, Winter Willow.
The lessons identified come from four key areas: crisis management and coordination; public advice and communication; further policy development; and business continuity.
The report can be accessed here.
USA pandemic readiness criticised
The US Government Accountability Office has released a report criticising America 's pandemic readiness.
Criticisms included the lack of clearly defined departmental responsibilities and the failure to conduct pandemic exercises to test the nation's pandemic plan.
Officials at the Department of Homeland Security said they agreed with the recommendations and that the department had already taken action on many of the shortfalls highlighted in the report.
The full report can be accessed here.
Malta Influenza Pandemic Plan launched
The Maltese Government has released the Malta Influenza Pandemic Response Plan.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention has heralded the plan as a good model for countries which have not drafted their own plans yet.
The plan can be accessed here.
Researchers from Singapore 's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have created a handheld device that can detect the H5N1 bird flu virus from throat swab samples in less than 30 minutes, compared to the conventional four hour laboratory tests currently used.
The device will enable testing in countries that lack laboratory and public health resources.
"The accuracy is comparable to conventional equipment, although we are faster and cheaper," Juergen Pipper from the Institute said.
The scientists hope to use the device to test for other viruses, such as SARS, AIDS and hepatitis B according to their paper published in the latest issue of Nature Medicine .
The paper can be accessed here.
The Australian Homeland Security Research Centre (AHSRC) has released the proceedings to its recent Australian Pandemic History Conference, entitled Lesson's from the Past for Today's Pandemic Planners and Officers.
The proceedings include papers from Dr Keith Horsley from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; Robyn Arrowsmith, author of A Danger Greater than War: NSW and the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic ; Dr David Philp from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health; Dr Colin Johnston, Chief Medical Advisor at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia; and Athol Yates, Executive Director of the AHSRC.
The proceedings can be downloaded free as a PDF or purchased in hardcopy here.
AHSRC will be running the Australian Pandemic History Conference again on February 26, 2008. Papers for inclusion in the conference and subsequent proceedings are currently being accepted.
For more information contact Athol Yates on (02) 6161 5143 or athol.yates@homelandsecurity.org.au
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