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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-04-28 Daily Xml
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SWINE FLU

Ms FOX (Bright) (15:55): My question is to the Minister for Health. What is the status of the outbreak of swine flu and what is being done in Australia to guard against it?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (15:55): I thank the member for Bright for this very important question. In recent days, a new influenza virus has emerged out of Mexico. This new virus is believed to be a combination of swine flu, avian flu and H1N1. Mexican authorities are reporting that more than 1,300 people in that country are ill from the flu and up to 149 people have died, most of whom were between the ages of 20 and 50 years.

In the United States, 40 cases have been confirmed across 10 different states. Almost all patients have experienced a relatively mild illness, differing from the more severe flu which has emerged in Mexico. There are also confirmed cases reported in Canada and Spain, with no deaths from those cases.

The World Health Organisation has upgraded its influenza pandemic alert from phase 3 to phase 4, meaning that there has been sustained human-to-human transmission of swine flu in a country. I am advised that no people have tested positive to swine flu in Australia. Here in South Australia, 12 people, who have recently returned from North America and who have displayed flu-like symptoms, are being tested for possible exposure to swine flu. The results from this testing are expected in coming days. Another two people have been tested and the results are negative. Similarly, travellers from other states have also been tested.

South Australia has a pandemic influenza operational plan which was developed in 2006 to prepare for such an event. This plan is being used by health officials in preparation for any potential pandemic. At this stage, our hospitals, health centres and GPs have been put on alert. We are asking anyone who has travelled to areas affected by the new strain of influenza to go to one of the specified hospitals named in the plan—Royal Adelaide Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre and Women's and Children's Hospital in the city, and the country hospitals of Whyalla, Port Augusta, Mount Gambier, Berri and Port Lincoln.

There is expert advice that the anti-viral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza will be useful in treating this virus. These are drugs that are readily available in South Australia that GPs can prescribe. The commonwealth government and the states and territories are working closely on surveillance and monitoring and on ensuring that systems are in place for our nation to cope with any outbreak of this flu. The commonwealth is liaising with the WHO and the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other relevant health experts to obtain the best information on the outbreaks. The commonwealth has introduced greater surveillance measures at airports.

Meanwhile, our health experts are urging South Australians once again to have a flu shot. While the current flu vaccination will not protect us against swine flu, it will protect us against other flu. Of course, the more people who have the flu shot, the fewer people will turn up to emergency departments with influenza. That means that South Australians can stay healthy, reducing demand on our hospitals and allowing them to be freed up in the face of any possible outbreak of swine flu.

The other key message is one of personal hygiene. Washing hands and covering your mouth when you cough are important practices for protecting yourself and others against any infection. Finally, the commonwealth, through the Department of Health and Ageing, has set up a new national hotline for Australians to access information on the overseas outbreak. That number is 180 2007.

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