EXERCISE ONLY Information regarding current pandemic influenza outbreak
Please note, the situation, information and related links contained below on this page are for the purposes of an internal disaster training exercise (22 September - 25 September 2008).
This situation is an exercise only and is not real
Current news (Last updated 1.10pm Wednesday 24 September):
- Hunter New England Health is warning the community to take precautions to give them the best chance possible of avoiding catching the new strain of pandemic influenza that has reached Australian shores
- There is now evidence of limited person to person transmission in Australia.
- There are confirmed cases in the HNE Health region. All of these people are being treated in hospital.
- Hunter New England Health is doing everything possible to contain the spread of the virus. HNE Health has enacted its disaster plan and the Area Emergency Operations Centre and the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre have been activated. The Commonwealth Government is coordinating the Australia-wide response.
- HNE Public Health Unit is contacting people who may have had contact with suspected or confirmed cases. These people are being given antiviral prophylaxis and quarantined.
- To be at risk people must have had direct contact with people with suspected or confirmed pandemic influenza. The risk to those who haven’t had direct contact with suspected or confirmed cases is low.
- However if anyone suspects they may have pandemic influenza or have recently returned from Jenesia, Gumpland or Sowomba (in Queensland) they should attend their local emergency department.
- HNE Health is being given a quantity of the antiviral Tamiflu, which we will use treat people who may have been exposed to pandemic influenza or people who have had contact with people who may have been exposed.
- People who have had direct contact with people with suspected or confirmed pandemic influenza are encouraged to stay in their homes for up to 10 days.
Media Releases:
23 September. Pandemic Influenza, take precautions
23 September: Pandemic Influenza: Situation Report for Media (5pm 23 Setpember)
24 September: Pandemic Influenza: Situation Report for Media (1pm 24 September)
24 September: Situation report for media (3pm 24 September)
24 September: Situation report for media (5pm 24 September)
25 September: Information about your local screening station
Pandemic Information:
- Current information for HNE Health Staff (Last updated 25 September)
- Information for General Practitioners and healthcare workers
- Information for Families and the Community
- Information for Businesses
- FAQs - Frequently asked questions on Bird Flu and Pandemic Influenza Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Influenza Pandemic questions and answers
- Be Prepared - Office of Emergency Services (link to information about preparing in case of an emergency or a disaster.
EXERCISE ONLY: CURRENT PANDEMIC STATUSLast updated 9:20am 25 September 2008. | |||||
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Australian Containment Phase | ||||
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Overseas Global Pandemic Alert Phase 5 International: Novel strain Influenza A cases identified overseas in Jenesia in local and expatriate population with dissemination to multiple countries. NSW: NSW PHEOC activated. HNE: HNE PHEOC and Area EOC activated. All HNE EDs alerted to conduct enhanced ILI surveillance using screening critera. Cases with overseas and local exposure will continue to present to HNE EDs. People with influenza-like illness will be diverted away from GPs to EDs.
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