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Planners prepare for possible pandemic
31 October 2006 <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="5"><tbody><tr><td height="5">
</td></tr></tbody></table> By KAMALA HAYMAN
Up to 1800 plane passengers and crew might have to be quarantined in Christchurch if an international flu pandemic forces New Zealand to close its borders.
Army barracks, tent cities, sports stadiums and hotels have been considered as possible quarantine centres for passengers arriving at Christchurch International Airport after borders have been closed, says a draft pandemic plan released by the Canterbury District Health Board yesterday.
The release comes just days before all 21 district health boards take part in a day-long exercise to test the nation's preparedness for a flu pandemic.
The Health Ministry scenario, to be tested on November 9, supposes isolated outbreaks of an infectious and deadly flu virus in each district.
This comes as international health experts continue to monitor the spread of the bird flu virus H5N1, which has killed more than 150 people ? more than half of the 250 cases confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Virologists say H5N1 is still mutating, and if the virus becomes more infectious it could spark the world's next deadly pandemic.
New Zealand is likely to close its borders as soon as the WHO identified a pandemic virus internationally.
In Christchurch, health officials would race to the airport to intercept flights.
Passengers showing symptoms of the suspect pandemic virus were likely to be sent to hospital and others diverted to quarantine sites.
Health officials have rejected tent cities and communal army barracks for such a quarantine because of the difficulty controlling the spread of any disease.
Sports centres such as Jade Stadium would be costly as sleeping arrangements would have to be set up. Using student halls of residence would be too disruptive during term, and campervans offered poor security.
Public health officials said hotels were the best option. The Rydges hotel chain had already offered its services.
Border control was expected to slow the spread of any pandemic flu but not prevent its arrival. Public health officials would try to stamp out any clusters until it spread beyond small groups.
A full-scale pandemic would then mean schools, shopping malls and bars would be closed.
Hospitals and other healthcare providers would be separated into red and green streams to keep flu sufferers (red) from other patients (green).
Health board chief medical officer Nigel Millar said Canterbury was unlikely to have a separate flu hospital but was likely to dedicate some rooms or wards in each hospital for flu cases.
All elective surgery would stop and the rehabilitation for elderly and orthopaedic patients at Princess Margaret and Burwood hospitals would be curtailed.
Hospitals would not be able to cope with the number of cases if the next pandemic was as severe as that seen in 1918. If repeated today, four out of 10 people would be infected and 3700 people in Canterbury would die.
Millar said most flu sufferers would be expected to recover at home and seek advice from a phone helpline.
Some would be referred to special flu clinics or "community-based assessment centres" but kept away from GPs or the hospital's emergency department.
Millar said he believed Christchurch communities would support each other during a pandemic.
However, a discussion document released by the National Ethics Advisory Committee has suggested a mixed response, ranging from volunteers who visited isolated families to people who refused to help their sick neighbours.
The committee proposes a scenario where a team of volunteers enters a home to find a woman dead in bed and an infant lying in a cot comatose and dehydrated with a soiled nappy. Neighbours refuse to care for the baby and the father, who lives in another city, cannot be found. Who would look after the infant?
The committee said good planning may prevent such situations.
31 October 2006 <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="5"><tbody><tr><td height="5">
</td></tr></tbody></table> By KAMALA HAYMAN
Up to 1800 plane passengers and crew might have to be quarantined in Christchurch if an international flu pandemic forces New Zealand to close its borders.
Army barracks, tent cities, sports stadiums and hotels have been considered as possible quarantine centres for passengers arriving at Christchurch International Airport after borders have been closed, says a draft pandemic plan released by the Canterbury District Health Board yesterday.
The release comes just days before all 21 district health boards take part in a day-long exercise to test the nation's preparedness for a flu pandemic.
The Health Ministry scenario, to be tested on November 9, supposes isolated outbreaks of an infectious and deadly flu virus in each district.
This comes as international health experts continue to monitor the spread of the bird flu virus H5N1, which has killed more than 150 people ? more than half of the 250 cases confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Virologists say H5N1 is still mutating, and if the virus becomes more infectious it could spark the world's next deadly pandemic.
New Zealand is likely to close its borders as soon as the WHO identified a pandemic virus internationally.
In Christchurch, health officials would race to the airport to intercept flights.
Passengers showing symptoms of the suspect pandemic virus were likely to be sent to hospital and others diverted to quarantine sites.
Health officials have rejected tent cities and communal army barracks for such a quarantine because of the difficulty controlling the spread of any disease.
Sports centres such as Jade Stadium would be costly as sleeping arrangements would have to be set up. Using student halls of residence would be too disruptive during term, and campervans offered poor security.
Public health officials said hotels were the best option. The Rydges hotel chain had already offered its services.
Border control was expected to slow the spread of any pandemic flu but not prevent its arrival. Public health officials would try to stamp out any clusters until it spread beyond small groups.
A full-scale pandemic would then mean schools, shopping malls and bars would be closed.
Hospitals and other healthcare providers would be separated into red and green streams to keep flu sufferers (red) from other patients (green).
Health board chief medical officer Nigel Millar said Canterbury was unlikely to have a separate flu hospital but was likely to dedicate some rooms or wards in each hospital for flu cases.
All elective surgery would stop and the rehabilitation for elderly and orthopaedic patients at Princess Margaret and Burwood hospitals would be curtailed.
Hospitals would not be able to cope with the number of cases if the next pandemic was as severe as that seen in 1918. If repeated today, four out of 10 people would be infected and 3700 people in Canterbury would die.
Millar said most flu sufferers would be expected to recover at home and seek advice from a phone helpline.
Some would be referred to special flu clinics or "community-based assessment centres" but kept away from GPs or the hospital's emergency department.
Millar said he believed Christchurch communities would support each other during a pandemic.
However, a discussion document released by the National Ethics Advisory Committee has suggested a mixed response, ranging from volunteers who visited isolated families to people who refused to help their sick neighbours.
The committee proposes a scenario where a team of volunteers enters a home to find a woman dead in bed and an infant lying in a cot comatose and dehydrated with a soiled nappy. Neighbours refuse to care for the baby and the father, who lives in another city, cannot be found. Who would look after the infant?
The committee said good planning may prevent such situations.