Swine Flu – advice for students and staff
Australia has launched a vaccination program offering free pandemic swine flu vaccine to every person in the country – see details below. As at October 16, the Australian figure for reported confirmed cases of human swine flu stands at 36,942 and 185 deaths have been associated with the pandemic.
Latest news
Queensland Health reported on October 20: The total number of Queenslanders vaccinated against Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza (Human Swine Flu) is more than 120,000 with Queensland Health urging more people to see their doctor about being immunised.
To date 120,900 people have been vaccinated, 94,400 by private providers including GPs and 26,500, including 13,600 health care workers, at Queensland Health facilities, according to reports received so far from vaccination service providers.
“Although our initial focus is on protecting those in the vulnerable groups, everyone apart from children under 10 is encouraged to talk to a GP or health care provider about vaccination,” Queensland Health Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said.
“Children under 10 years are not being offered vaccine yet until data from the trials on younger children is finalised and evaluated, which is expected next month.
“This virus continues to circulate in Australia, it does spread in the warmer months and could come back and affect large numbers next winter, or even earlier during this summer.
“Countries in the northern hemisphere continued to have many cases of pandemic influenza in their summer months and this could happen in Australia,” Dr Young said.
“As they move towards winter several countries are reporting increasing numbers of influenza-like illness including the H1N1 human swine flu, and this could spread down to Australia during the busy holiday period.”
The total number of deaths related to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (Human Swine Influenza) notified in Queensland remains unchanged at 41 of 185 nationally. The last reported death in Queensland was on 1 October.
Cumulatively, Queensland has had 1243 hospitalisations of 4886 nationally. Currently 19 people are hospitalised including two in intensive care.
While it is rare, some people do have adverse events* following vaccination. Of the nearly 121,000 immunisations with Panvax® H1N1 vaccine to date in Queensland, 71 adverse events have been reported. Of these, 10 people have required hospitalisation usually for observation over a brief period.
On average around one in 10 people may have side-effects from influenza vaccine such as some swelling, redness and/or pain where the injection is given. Other side-effects such as fever, tiredness, headaches and muscle aches are less common. These side-effects can start within a few hours of vaccination and may last for one to two days and are not generally serious.
The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon said on September 30 that Australia was embarking on what was potentially the biggest vaccination program in its history, offering free pandemic (swine flu) vaccine to every person in the country.
From September 30, all States and Territories began offering vaccine to adults and children 10 years and over. Once the vaccine is registered for younger children by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, children will also be eligible to be vaccinated.
A total of 5.5 million doses of the vaccine have been delivered around Australia for the start of this program. Thousands more vaccines are being produced each day by local pharmaceutical company CSL. The Rudd Government has placed an order for 21 million doses of the newly developed vaccine. Full statement
For information about how people can access the free vaccine, ring the National Pandemic Hotline on 180 2007 or visit http://www.healthemergency.gov.au
On October 5, Queensland Health provided the following general information about the Vaccination Program :
The initial focus of the program is on vaccinating groups who are most vulnerable to severe outcomes from the virus, that is:
- Pregnant women
- Indigenous people
- Parents and guardians of infants up to six months
- Children in special schools
- People with underlying medical conditions which could include:
heart disease,
asthma and other lung diseases,
cancer,
obesity (BMI > 35),
diabetes,
kidney and liver disease,
neurological disease.
- Healthcare workers
Family, carers and friends of vulnerable people are also encouraged to be vaccinated.
Although the focus is on protecting those in the vulnerable groups, the vaccine is available to all those wanting to protect themselves in the community. Anyone wishing to be vaccinated should see their General Practitioner or health care provider.
Initially, children under 10 years will not be offered vaccine, as data from the trials on younger children will not be available until late October or early November.
The vaccine is provided free, but a consultation fee may be charged by a healthcare provider.
Queensland Health has actively tailored local arrangements for regions across the State to ensure that the vaccination requirements of every area in Queensland are met. Local vaccination programs are adapted to suit the diverse regions of the State.
To find out how to access the vaccine in Queensland:
• People can contact their local GP;
• Contact a local Queensland Health facility to find out about local arrangements (find local information here), or
• Call 13HEALTH (13 432 584) for local information for a town or region.
Queensland Health website http://www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu
More information also at:
National case update for October 16:
At noon today Australia has had 36,942 confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
The number of deaths associated with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 continues to increase. As of 16 October, 185 people have died. Of these deaths, four were pregnant women and 24 (13.11%) were Indigenous.
There have been 2 confirmed deaths in the ACT, 51 in NSW, 6 in the NT, 41 in Qld, 27 in SA, 7 in Tas, 24 in Victoria and 27 in WA.
Hospitalisations: The reporting of current hospitalisations has been replaced by weekly reporting of new hospitalisations, as States and Territories have moved from reporting data daily to reporting weekly.
There have been 22 new hospitalisations for the past week around Australia with pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Of these, 3 people in hospital are Indigenous Australians.
There have been 2 people admitted to Intensive Care Units this week. There has been 4 people hospitalised in NSW , 3 in the NT, 7 in Qld*, 2 in SA, and 6 in WA, in the past week. ICU admissions: 2 people in the NT have been admitted to Intensive Care Units this week.
The total number of hospitalisations in Australia since pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is identified at 4,886.
Note: Jurisdictions are reporting data once per week on various days. All figures will be updated on Fridays. Last update 16 October 2009.
* QLD has not reported hospitalisations this week.
Advice
While Queensland and Australia has reached the peak of the flu season, Queensland Health advises residents, and especially those people vulnerable to complications if they contract human swine flu, to continue to be vigilant and to seek medical attention as soon as they experience flu-like symptoms. They should also avoid contact with people who have the flu or flu-like symptoms.
People can continue to minimise the chances of being infected or spreading Human Swine Flu by adopting good hygiene practices, staying away from people if they have influenza, and covering mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing.
Employers should stress to employees the importance of practising basic hygiene techniques and staying home when sick. More information at http://www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu/documents/adv_employers.pdf
[*Vulnerable category = indigenous people of all ages, pregnant women, those with respiratory disease (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart disease, diabetes, renal and liver disease, obesity and immunosuppression.]
The public health message for both seasonal and H1N1 Influenza is the same:
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stay home when sick
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wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand gel
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wash hands prior to touching eyes, nose and mouth
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when coughing or sneezing, cover mouth and nose using tissues which should be disposed of immediately
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don't share items such as cigarettes, glasses or cups, lipstick, toys or anything which could be contaminated with respiratory secretions
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maintain at least one metre distance from people who have flu-like symptoms such as coughing or sneezing
Susan Kinobe | Manager, Financial Operations, Division of Finance and Resource Planning advises: “The University encourages all staff to take necessary precautions when travelling (overseas and domestically) and to familiarize yourself with the current travel bulletin from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading. DFAT travel Bulletins
All staff should contact their collaborating and visiting institutions overseas well in advance of travelling to identify any isolation measures that would be put in place upon arrival.
If you need any further information please contact me.
Room 226, Ken Back Chancellery Building, James Cook University, Angus Smith Drive, Douglas, QLD 4811
P: +61 7 4781 4324
F: +61 7 4781 4034
E: susan.kinobe@jcu.edu.au”
What should I do if I have flu like symptoms and wish to see a doctor?
If attending a medical practice or hospital Emergency Department, telephone beforehand so that they can arrange for you to be seen away from other people.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal influenza, including: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.
Source: Queensland Health website.
Further up to date information on Swine Flu is available at:
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu/
Key sites for further information
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu/
http://www.healthemergency.gov.au
Commonwealth Health Hotline for H1N1 1802007
Queensland Health Hotline 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
Earlier developments
On June 17, Australia developed a new response phase to manage the outbreak of H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Influenza) called PROTECT.
“The new phase recognises that the infection with H1N1 Influenza 09 is not as severe as originally envisaged when the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI) was written in 2008 and that this new disease is mild in most cases, severe in some and moderate overall,” Minister Health Ms Roxon said.
“PROTECT is a measured, reasonable and proportionate health response to the risk that the infection poses to the Australian community. It is consistent with the message from the WHO when it lifted its Pandemic Alert to 6, that countries will need to adjust their responses to accommodate the knowledge we now have that this disease is moderate in most cases.
The key elements of the new phase are:
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Identifying and treating early infection in the vulnerable, in whom the disease may lead to severe outcomes like pregnant women, Indigenous Australians and those with respiratory disease (asthma, COPD), heart disease, diabetes, renal disease, morbid obesity and immunosuppression.
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Controlling outbreaks, including diagnostic testing, in institutional settings, such as special schools.
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Voluntary home isolation for those who have mild illness. However, contacts will not be placed into quarantine
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Limited school closures with the emphasis on excluding school children with acute respiratory illness from school
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More sharply focused monitoring of outcomes such as hospitalisations, surveillance of institutions, outbreaks and people with moderate or severe disease.
Details
Greg Stokie
Senior Director People and Equity