Pandemic Planning
Information for the Community

Information for the Community

Updates

Updates on Swine influenza

Fact Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pandemic?

A pandemic occurs when a disease develops which is able to easily infect humans, and which can readily spread from person to person. Because it is new, people have little or no immunity. Pandemics may result in large numbers of deaths. In addition, a pandemic imposes a considerable economic burden in the form of hospital and other health care costs and lost productivity.

Pandemic influenza

While any disease may cause a pandemic, the most common pandemics of the last century were caused by influenza. While the likelihood of another influenza pandemic is unknown, it is probably at its highest level in several decades. The 'Spanish flu' pandemic of 1918-1919 is estimated to have killed at least 40-million people. In 1957 and 1968 two other influenza pandemics caused a significant number of deaths globally (2-million and 1-million respectively).

Swine influenza

Swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of a swine flu virus have been recently confirmed.

Avian influenza

Avian influenza refers to a number of different influenza viruses that occur among birds, only a few of which can cause disease in humans. Recently a new strain of avian influenza (known as H5N1) has developed that may be transmitted to humans. There is concern that if the virus changes to become easily spread from person to person, a pandemic may occur. More information on avian influenza is available from the NSW Health Communicable Diseases Branch.

Seasonal influenza

Seasonal influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It circulates each year and many people become unwell. More information on seasonal influenza is available from the NSW Health Communicable Diseases Branch. To open posters, manuals and other information on this page click directly on the item and print the information as needed.

Travel advice

Smart Traveller website

Hotline Telephone Numbers

Swine influenza 180 2007
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing 1800 004 599
(a national information phone line for enquiries from the public)
Emergency animal disease watch 1800 675 888
(a free phone service for members of the public, veterinarians and livestock producers, to report any unusual disease signs in animals)