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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-16 Daily Xml
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SWINE FLU

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (14:19): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Influenza A H1N1, also known as swine flu, continues to have an impact on our nation and, indeed, our state. As of 10.30am, South Australia had recorded a total of 86 cases of swine flu. Up to 70 per cent of these cases are in people under the age of 30 years. Nationally, there have been 1,919 cases, with Victoria having more than 1,200 of those cases. In South Australia, two people with swine flu are currently hospitalised.

Virus experts tell us that, so far, swine flu seems to have similar characteristics to a normal seasonal flu and does not appear to be a highly virulent version, with just a handful of hospitalisations required generally in people with underlying health conditions. As the number of cases grows across Australia, we will inevitably transition to the next pandemic alert phase. Ministers of health will be meeting by phone this evening to consider this matter.

Under the current protocols, as directed by the commonwealth under its pandemic plan, the aim for public health officials has been to stop the spread of swine flu as much as possible ahead of a vaccination being ready. For the three months since the first cases of swine flu were detected in Mexico triggering the global spread, Australia has successfully slowed the spread of swine flu. Nonetheless, it appears that the virus has become well and truly established across our nation, with 86 cases in our state. It is only a matter of time before the prevalence of the virus climbs to the level now experienced in Victoria.

The containment measures have included closing of schools for seven days when a student is diagnosed, and tracing of all their contacts and the application of Tamiflu to close contacts. Those measures are now becoming impractical and difficult to manage, and the impact on school communities in particular and, of course, parents is enormous. We must now acknowledge that swine flu is present in our community.

For most people this will be a mild illness, just as it is with seasonal flu, which is also circulating in our community as it usually does through the winter months. The focus of the health system in South Australia must now shift from contact tracing of confirmed cases. Many people have a mild illness and will not even present to a doctor. We must now direct our health efforts to the protection of those with conditions that may make them more susceptible to more severe illnesses. As well as that, the role of Tamiflu in this outbreak will be altered so that the most vulnerable people receive it to protect them from the impact of swine flu. It will no longer be generally used as a prophylactic.

As the public health approach to H1N1 is refined in the light of increasing understanding of the virus, SA Health continues to send regular updates and public health alerts to GPs and hospitals. SA Health continues to offer support for GPs through its hotline. Meanwhile, SA Health is preparing for more cases across our state, and the impact that this will have on our hospital system. Already, flu clinics have been established at key hospitals across the metropolitan area and in country hospitals, and all are ready with supplies of antivirals.

Planning is continuing for additional flu clinics. As well, SA Health is preparing for the possibility that some elective surgery might have to be postponed if demand for hospital beds increases, and SA Health is talking to private hospitals to determine their extra capacity in case of increased demand.

Today, legislation has been passed by parliament that will provide the state with increased powers in the case of a more dangerous pandemic. The legislation includes new powers for senior health officials, including directing a person to remain in isolation to stop the spread of a disease or obliging them to undergo medical observation, examination or treatment. These powers would be used only in the event of a serious health emergency and could help to contain the outbreak of a disease that could pose a serious threat to our wider population. We do not expect to invoke these powers for swine flu.

The strongest message to our community will be that people suffering flu-like symptoms are urged to stay home from school and work and stop the spread of the disease, whether it be the normal seasonal flu or, indeed, swine flu. I also urge people to stay calm. Evidence from across the world suggests that swine flu is no more virulent than the normal seasonal flu.

Finally, I pay tribute to the Communicable Disease Control Branch of SA Health who have been working 24 hours a day, seven days a week on combating this virus for the past month. I also pay tribute to SA Pathology and IMVS staff. I also thank hospital staff for their strong commitment to helping our state put up with this virus; and GPs, of course, who are at the front line of this outbreak.

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