Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

B. Infection control-general advice

The Interim Pandemic Influenza Infection Control Guidelines provide detailed instructions on infection control during a pandemic. The guidelines are available on the DoHA website, www.flupandemic.gov.au.

This section describes the simple things everyone can do to help control the spread of the influenza virus during a pandemic. These include:

• washing and drying your hands regularly and properly
• covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
• wearing basic PPE—see Appendix G
• standing or sitting back from other people.

Knowing what to do when you are sick or when caring for sick people is also very important, this is covered in Part 2, Section C.

Some people need to be especially careful about infection control in a pandemic (see Box 9).

Box 9: People who should be particularly careful about infection control Some people, such as very young children and the elderly, may be at higher risk from influenza because they have weaker body defences (immune systems). Pregnant women, particularly those who are in the second or third trimester of their pregnancies, have an increased risk of complications and death after influenza infections. Similarly, people with diseases such as cancer or HIV/AIDS, people who have had organ transplants and people who take particular medications, frequently develop complications. People with chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease (for example, asthma or cystic fibrosis), kidney disease or diabetes, are also at risk from influenza. When the body is affected by other conditions, it is easier for bacteria to invade cells damaged by the influenza virus and cause other illnesses, such as pneumonia. Influenza can also stress the body so that the underlying illness worsens.

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