NZ: Govt plans to close borders if influenza pandemic strikes

[DB]

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200604070609/26355899

Govt plans to close NZ borders if influenza pandemic strikes

Posted at 6:09am on 7 Apr 2006

Legislation giving the Government the power to close New Zealand's borders in the event of an influenza pandemic was introduced in Parliament on Thursday.

The bill adds influenza to the list of quarantinable diseases, and allows the Prime Minister to activate temporary powers to manage a pandemic.

It clarifies the powers of Medical Officers of Health, and strengthens provisions for medical testing at the border and detaining people who are infectious.

It also clears the way for the speedy establishment of community treatment centres and mass graves, and updates the rules surrounding the powers to close public places.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson said the bill's provisions will be used only in a major emergency. But he said that if a pandemic reached New Zealand, the country would face some of its most serious social and economic challenges in over a generation.

The Government plans to pass the bill into law by August, but would fast-track it if necessary.

1918 Pandemic toll
The 1918 "Black Flu" pandemic claimed the lives of more than 8,500 New Zealanders in the space of six weeks from late October to early December 1918. ( Black November: The 1918 influenza pandemic in New Zealand, Professor Geoffrey Rice, revised second edition by Canterbury University Press, 2005).

 

[Bruce]

Re: NZ: Govt plans to close borders if influenza pandemic strikes

Jail among bird-flu measures
07.04.06
By Ainsley Thomson

Police will be able to use force to detain people suspected of suffering from bird flu under legislation to prepare New Zealand for a future pandemic.

The Law Reform Epidemic Preparedness Bill, introduced to Parliament yesterday, adds pandemic influenza to the list of quarantinable diseases. At present, quarantine powers apply only to yellow fever, cholera and the plague.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson said there was no current pandemic threat to New Zealand, but the Government had to be prepared.

The 1918-19 Spanish flu infected 40 per cent of New Zealand's population and killed about 8000 people.

It has been predicted that if a bird flu pandemic, equally virulent and novel to the human immune system, struck the country it could infect about 1.6 million people - 40 per cent of the population - and kill 33,000 in eight weeks.

The bill gives medical officers of health the power to detain people suffering from pandemic flu and keep them under surveillance for up to 28 days.

People suspected of suffering from the disease will be put under "surveillance at large", meaning they will stay in the community but have to report, usually daily, to a doctor.

People who refuse to follow medical officers' orders could be arrested and imprisoned for six months or fined up to $4000.

Ministry of Health chief legal adviser Grant Adam said police would be given the power to use force to back up orders from medical officers.

"In the unlikely event of resistance to medical officers in exercising their duties to manage the disease, the police will be able to assist. This hasn't been possible in the past."

Mr Adam said the bill tried to balanced an infected person's rights to freedom against a person's right not to be infected.

Medical officers of health will be able to commandeer land, buildings and vehicles to deal with a pandemic outbreak.

Mr Hodgson said the legislation fixed the gaps in current laws and improved the Government's ability to respond to an outbreak of pandemic flu or a similar disease.

"If a pandemic reaches New Zealand we have to be ready to deal with some of the most serious social and economic challenges we've faced in over a generation."

The bill mainly makes amendments to the 50-year-old Health Act, but also updates about nine non-health acts including the Parole Act and Immigration Act.

Mr Hodgson said the bill should be passed into law by August but would be fast-tracked if necessary.

The Law Reform Epidemic Preparedness Bill:

* Makes pandemic flu a quarantinable disease.

* Allows people to be detained for up to 28 days if they are infected.

* Gives the police powers to use force to assist medical officers of health.

* Makes people who refuse to follow medical officers' orders liable to be jailed for six months or fined up to $4000.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10376449

 

[chicken little]

Re: NZ: Govt plans to close borders if influenza pandemic strikes

The Dept.of Health(or whatever it is called these days) has issued the above statement;however I am still in the dark as to what it means by 'when a pandemic strikes".
1. When the first infected bird is found here?
2.When the bird infection rate increases? or more infected birds are found?
3.When the 1st infected person arrives by aircraft from Asia,or where-ever?
4.When the virus has demonstrated human to human transmissibility?
5.When the public goes nuts and demands action? You get my drift.

They will not publically address this issue yet.Heck,who has?!I would like to be a fly on the wall during Govt. discussions but gut feel tells me that they are probably no better informed than we are.
Universally,cock-ups abound when Govts. are under pressure to make big decisions.
Like you,I keep my nose to the ground and will make my own decisions as to what and when action is wise.

 

[chicken little]

Re: NZ: Govt plans to close borders if influenza pandemic strikes

ps...I live in Auckland NZ. Am a middle aged woman,middle classed and probably middle arsed.Happily married with kid in local secondary school.I would really like to connect with others who can share intelligent thought on this issue.