About pandemics
The World Health Organisation has raised its global pandemic alert level for human swine flu to Phase 6. This phase means that a global pandemic is underway and it is no longer possible to contain the virus in a particular geographical area.
In Australia, we are now in the PROTECT phase (external site).
What is a pandemic?
A pandemic occurs when a disease or virus becomes geographically widespread throughout the world.
What is pandemic influenza?
Pandemic influenza occurs when a new strain of flu virus infects the human population. Because people have little or no immunity to the new virus, a high proportion of the population may be infected and develop symptoms.
A pandemic influenza virus may cause illness of varying severity. Some pandemic viruses have caused illness of similar severity to that seen with normal seasonal influenza, but because more people catch the flu than in a normal year, there are higher overall numbers of people requiring hospitalisation or dying.
The World Health Organisation global influenza pandemic alert level is currently at Phase 6, in view of the spread of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus around the world. This phase means that a global pandemic is underway and it is not possible to contain the virus in a particular geographical area.
In Australia, we are now in the PROTECT phase of our pandemic plan.
Under the PROTECT phase:
- International airports continue normal operations.
- Schools will not be closed if students are found to have human swine flu. Children are urged to stay home if they are unwell, to protect their classmates. Children do not need to be kept home after travelling.
- Voluntary home isolation is recommended for those who have mild illness. Contacts will no longer be quarantined. Household contacts who remain well may go to school, work and public places as normal
- Attention is focused on those in the community who may be at risk of severe illness. This may include pregnant women and people with underlying conditions including:
- respiratory disease such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- heart disease
- diabetes
- renal disease
- morbid obesity
- weakened immune systems
Vaccination against the pandemic (H1N1) influenza virus is now available and is an important part of the PROTECT phase response.
WA’s response
- Western Australia is well prepared to deal with pandemic influenza
- The Department of Health has developed the Western Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (PDF 670KB)
- The pandemic (H1N1) influenza vaccine was made available from 30 September 2009