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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-07-15 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) (14:10): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: On 17 June I announced that South Australia, in line with the rest of the country, was moving to the 'protect' stage in the pandemic response to swine flu. The containment measures initially employed, such as closing schools and providing Tamiflu to close contacts of patients, successfully delayed the spread of the virus in South Australia. All the evidence so far shows that, in most cases, swine flu is a mild illness and not everyone who contracts it needs to see a doctor, get tested or receive antiviral treatment.

However, the growth in confirmed cases across the country and across the world is evidence that it is no longer possible to contain the virus in any particular geographic area. The 'protect' phase focuses on identifying and treating those who are most vulnerable to developing serious complications from the virus—and we remain, of course, in the 'protect' phase.

I am pleased to inform members that a clinical trial of a candidate vaccine against H1N1 will commence shortly at the RAH in partnership with CSL Limited and clinical research organisation CMAX. The trial will involve participants receiving two injections of the vaccine three weeks apart and will compare standard and increased dosages. Volunteers will be tested to check that they are generating an appropriate immune response to the virus. The trial is being conducted as part of the efforts to meet the federal government's commitment to ordering 21 million doses of an H1N1 vaccine.

The best protection, however, remains the practice of basic hygiene, including washing your hands, wiping down surfaces and covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough—wash, wipe, cover, don't infect another. We have now had 1,162 confirmed cases of H1N1 in South Australia out of nearly 10,000 confirmed cases nationwide. In addition, there have been 835 cases of seasonal influenza A and B. Interestingly, 877 of these cases (over 75 per cent) have been in people under the age of 30. Predominantly, this virus is not affecting older people as we would expect from seasonal influenza.

The number of cases of both H1N1 and seasonal influenza have contributed to increased demand on hospital and GP services. For instance, during June there was a 9.1 per cent increase in metropolitan emergency department presentations compared to the same time last year. Currently, 12 people in South Australia who have tested positive to H1N1 have been hospitalised, with one person in ICU.

Today, it is with sadness that I announce that a second person has died with H1N1 in South Australia. This is the first person from South Australia. On Thursday 9 July the man was admitted to Modbury Hospital and on Friday 10 July to the Lyell McEwin Hospital. He had a number of pre-existing major medical conditions which became critical over his six days in hospital. He died early this morning in the intensive care unit. His diagnosis as positive H1N1 was confirmed yesterday.

Both the Lyell McEwin and Modbury hospitals have undertaken appropriate infection control procedures and practices to limit the spread and risk to other patients, visitors and staff. Staff who may have been exposed to at-risk situations with this young man are being provided with antiviral medication on a case-by-case basis. I am sure that all members would join me in passing on our condolences to the young man's family and friends.

The total number of people who have died with H1N1 in Australia now stands at 21. I would like to take this opportunity to thank hospital staff, GPs and staff in the Communicable Diseases Control Branch for their very strong commitment to helping our state weather this virus.

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