Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

2.1 Supporting control activities overseas

It is most likely that the pandemic strain will emerge overseas. Preventing development of the pandemic strain requires:

• Containment of influenza outbreaks in animals, and
• Protecting those humans who are in close contact with infected animals. This not just to protect the individual from severe disease but to reduce the opportunities for the influenza virus to gain the ability to transmit readily between humans.

Scientists believe that if the first cluster of human cases is detected early enough then rapid intervention could potentially avert a pandemic, or at least significantly delay the spread of the pandemic virus to other countries.

In the event that a cluster of human cases emerges overseas, the Australian Government will act early to encourage the WHO and relevant governments to attempt to avert a pandemic using rapid interventions as outlined in the WHO Interim Protocol: Rapid operations to contain the initial emergence of pandemic influenza. The WHO has a stock of antiviral medicines and equipment at its disposal. The Australian Government will also consider requests from the WHO or other governments for assistance. The Australian Government would respond commensurately with the nature of the threat, providing this could be done without weakening Australia’s own capacity for action, should the pandemic spread here.
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Phase snapshot: Supporting control activities overseas

PHASE	HEALTH ACTION
ALERT	Provide health advice about support required by overseas countries to: control of pandemic potential viruses in animals, protection of humans from infection, and support pandemic preparedness
DELAY	Provide health advice about overseas aid required to control the pandemic in humans
CONTAIN	Focus on domestic response
SUSTAIN
CONTROL
RECOVER	Consider overseas support to control global pandemic and reduce risk of subsequent waves affecting Australia, if capacity exists and need is identified
Linked document	National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic

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This information is current for 03 September, 2010
This information was issued on 05 December, 2008