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Information current at
30 April 2009
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A new strain of influenza A (swine flu) has been identified in an outbreak in Mexico and has since spread to the USA and a couple of other countries. In Mexico the outbreak has caused a severe respiratory illness in 1195 people with up to 149 deaths but elsewhere almost all patients have so far experienced a relatively mild illness.
The virus has spread by person to person contact but, despite the name of this strain of influenza there is no risk of infection from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.
The World Health Organization has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5 which indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but this does not imply that a pandemic is inevitable and no borders have been closed.
No cases of this strain of influenza have yet been identified in Australia . Nevertheless incoming aircraft from the Americas are now required to report any passenger with flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, and fatigue) prior to landing in Australia .
The advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Victoria is that anyone with the above flu-like symptoms who have either travelled or been in contact with anyone who has travelled to Mexico or California, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas in the past seven days to seek advice from your local GP or local hospital emergency department. If influenza is suspected the patient will be isolated, swabs will be taken for laboratory analysis and treatment commenced if indicated or the patient will be referred to the nearest public hospital.
It is not expected that the Australian seasonal influenza vaccine will provide protection against this new strain of influenza virus. However antiviral drugs (Tamiflu and Relenza) are useful and can be prescribed by GPs. Also people over 65 and those who are vulnerable are still encouraged to be vaccinated with the routine influenza vaccine as this will at least provide protection against seasonal influenza
Good health hygiene practices can greatly reduce the chance of transmission and people with symptoms are strongly advised to cough and sneeze into a disposable tissue and wash hands regularly with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand wash is available for patients presenting to Swinburne Health Service
People with flu-like symptoms, in addition to seeking medical advice, should avoid public places and close contact with others, especially children.
For further information and updates :
World Health Organisation Swine Flu page:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
Advice from the Chief Health Officer of Victoria:
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/chiefhealthofficer/alerts/influenza_a.htm
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