What lessons can be learnt from Australia’s initial response to the outbreak?
Given all the detailed planning and preparation that has gone into the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI)1 over the past 4 years, Australians may be wondering how well the plan has performed in Victoria during the recent H1N1 (swine) influenza outbreak. As clinicians working in one of the main affected hospitals, we would like to offer four key observations.
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- Infectious Diseases Department, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC.
- 1. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australian health management plan for pandemic influenza. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2008. http://www.flupandemic.gov.au/internet/panflu/publishing.nsf/Content/ahmppi (accessed Jun 2009).
- 2. Liem NT, Tung CV, Hien ND, et al. Clinical features of human influenza A (H5N1) infection in Vietnam: 2004–2006. Clin Infect Dis 2009; 48: 1639-1646.
- 3. Swaminathan A, Martin R, Gamon S, et al. Personal protective equipment and antiviral drug use during hospitalization for suspected avian or pandemic influenza. Emerg Infect Dis 2007; 13: 1541-1547.
- 4. Hayden FG, Atmar RL, Schilling M, et al. Use of the selective oral neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir to prevent influenza. N Engl J Med 1999; 341: 1336-1343.