Current Status
Review of Australia’s Health Sector Response to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009: Lessons Identified
The Report is the result of extensive consultation with Australia’s domestic stakeholders to ensure it accurately reviews the health sector response to the 2009 pandemic. It focuses on what was planned, what happened during the response, and identifies key issues and lessons to inform future pandemic planning in Australia. The Report makes twenty-five recommendations that encompass the range of public health policies and actions relevant to a national health sector response to an influenza pandemic.
The Pandemic Review Implementation Advisory Committee (PRIAC) was established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations. The PRIAC is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Professor Chris Baggoley, and comprises of appropriate stakeholders including Commonwealth, jurisdictional, and specialist representation. The outcomes of a number of recommendations will inform a review of the
Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza 2009.
Pandemic Phase Status
As of 1 December 2010, Australia is in pandemic phase ALERT.
The key element of the ALERT phase is heightened vigilance for a new influenza virus or a change in a current circulating influenza virus, which may be of concern. This is consistent with the WHO’s recommendation to continue ongoing vigilance in the early post-pandemic period.
More information on Australia's current pandemic status is available
here.
Preparing for pandemic influenza
This website provides important information about pandemic influenza, including what the Australian Government did in response to the pandemic (H1N1) influenza 2009 outbreak and what it will do if we face another pandemic. This site also contains information on what individuals, businesses, communities and health care professionals can do to prepare for and respond to a flu pandemic. This website was developed in consultation with State and Territory and local governments.
Even though Australia is well equipped, governments alone cannot respond effectively to a flu pandemic. It is important that we are all prepared for the possibility of a pandemic and ready to respond to the threat to help slow the spread of infection and lessen the impact.
