Fed: Tasmania acts over swine flu threat
By Paul Carter26 Apr 2009 9:12 PM
HOBART, April 26 AAP - Tasmania has activated an emergency health committee to deal with the deadly swine flu.
Tasmania's chief health officer, Dr Craig White, said on Sunday night that the State Health and Human Services Emergency Committee had been activated to cooperate with the national response.
Dr White heads the emergency committee of public health and hospital officials activated when public health is at serious risk.
The deadly flu that appeared in Mexico may have reached Australia's doorstep.
Ten New Zealand students just returned to Auckland from Mexico have tested positive for influenza A and are believed "likely" to have contracted swine flu, the New Zealand government said on Sunday.
Dr White says Tasmanian health authorities have increased surveillance following the swine flu outbreak.
"No cases of the swine flu identified in Mexico and the United States have been reported anywhere in Australia," he said.
"However, the World Health Organisation has declared the outbreaks an international public health emergency and has recommended all countries intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia.
"In line with the precautionary response at a national level, Tasmania has asked all public hospital emergency departments to be on alert for flu symptoms, particularly in people who have recently travelled to Mexico or the US."
The new influenza strain, feared to have killed 81 people in Mexico and infected 10 in the US, has "pandemic potential", the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Sunday.
Tasmanian public health director Dr Chrissie Pickin said anyone with a flu-like illness, a cough, fever and fatigue; and who has travelled to Mexico or the United States in the last seven days; should immediately contact the public health service by phoning 1800 671 738.
"We are also advising GPs and other health professionals to refer any such cases to their nearest public hospital emergency department," she said on Sunday night.
"In the event that swine flu is brought into Australia, it is vital that we detect it as soon as possible so that we can activate our public health response," she said.
