Update on Health Response to Swine Flu Threat

MEDIA RELEASE
Friday 12 June 2009

Update on Health Response to Influenza A (H1N1) Threat

The World Health Organisation has declared the influenza A (H1N1) swine flu outbreak as a pandemic and moved to a phase 6 alert which recognises widespread community transmission of the virus around the world.

Phase 6 means that WHO considers that a global pandemic is underway – it means nothing about the severity of the illness or this strain of influenza, rather it relates to how quickly and how widely the virus is spreading.

Lakes and Bay of Plenty DHBs have been jointly planning and preparing since late April when the first suspected cases were identified in New Zealand so in practical terms, people will see little immediate change in the response.

The DHBs will continue to manage suspected cases and contacts of influenza A (H1N1) through Toi Te Ora Public Health and to co-ordinate the planning to manage the response through the joint Emergency Operations Centre at Rotorua Hospital. The number of people being managed by the Lakes and BOP public health unit is now 50 with the number growing steadily. There are no confirmed cases of influenza A H1N1) in the Lakes or Bay of Plenty DHB areas.

EOC Incident Controller Gary Lees says that Lakes and Bay of Plenty public health officials are working very hard and are coping at present with actively following up individuals who are either suspect cases or their contacts. However, with the increasing number of people needing to be quarantined or isolated and given tamiflu, a lot of planning going on as to how this might be approached differently.

Deputy Director Public Health Dr Darren Hunt says the focus and response of New Zealand’s health services will be governed by events here, not overseas. On the evidence so far, all confirmed New Zealand cases are travel related or close contacts of travellers, which means there is no evidence of community spread so far.

Dr Hunt says at the moment New Zealand is continuing containment efforts, as every week we buy is important for delaying the peak of infection out past winter when hospitals are under most pressure, and giving families, schools and businesses a chance to prepare.

“The way the virus has spread in Australia is what we’re likely to see here – the numbers will increase and at some stage we will have community spread. At that point we will increase our emphasis on managing cases in the community and treat it like all flu – the difference is that many more people will be affected because the population is not immune to this new virus. While swine flu has been relatively mild so far, it will be serious for some,” said Dr Hunt.

The Ministry of Health advice is that people who have travelled overseas but who are well on their return or arrival do not need to be routinely excluded from school or work on their return.
But if they have flu symptoms within seven days they should call their doctor or Healthline (0800 611 116), and not go to school or work.

At this time, the Ministry of Health is not recommending cancelling or postponing overseas travel during the upcoming school holidays which start on Saturday 4 July.

The situation in both New Zealand and internationally is being constantly reviewed, but it is not possible to predict what the situation will be in New Zealand or other countries in early July.

Advice for travellers

There are some practical steps travellers can take to reduce the risk of becoming infected with ‘swine flu’or ‘seasonal flu’ while travelling:

1. Reduce time spent in crowded settings if possible.
2. Be extra vigilant with hygiene precautions – regular hand washing and thorough drying, or use of an alcohol-based hand gel, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread this way.
3. If you are talking to your doctor or a travel health centre as part of your travel preparation, discuss protection from swine flu.

Similarly, people returning from overseas should:

1. If you are ill, do not go to work, and seek medical advice – phone first if you think you may be at risk of having ‘Swine Flu’
2. If you develop flu-like symptoms within seven days of returning from a place with sustained community transmission, you should seek medical advice by ringing your GP before seeing them.
3. If you are sick but haven’t travelled to any of these places nor been in close contact with someone who has, then you should do what you normally do if you have ‘seasonal’ flu which includes staying away from work or school.

ENDS

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