NZ: Implementing the early stages of our pandemic response plan but no indication that this will be needed

[Sally Furniss]

NZ monitoring swine flu pandemic

NZPA Last updated 13:04 26/04/2009


The Ministry of Health is monitoring a new flu virus after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned it could start a global epidemic.
More than 80 people in Mexico are believed to have died and over 1300 are sick as a result of catching swine flu which has led to the closure of schools in Mexico city.

There have also been cases of the swine flu reported in New York, California and Kansas and a British Airways pilot has been hospitalised in London with flu symptoms after returning from Mexico.
The WHO has declared the outbreaks a "public health event of international concern" and said they could cause a pandemic ? a global epidemic of serious disease.

Normal border control procedures were in place, and the WHO has asked all countries to "intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia".

The ministry here said it continued to be in contact with the WHO and was liaising with Australia over its response at this stage was. "We are implementing the early stages of our pandemic response plan," a spokesman said.

"However at this stage there is no indication that this will be needed."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2364388/NZ-monitoring-swine-flu-pandemic

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ: Implementing the early stages of our pandemic response plan but no indication that this will be needed

Normal border control procedures were in place, and the WHO has asked all countries to "intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia".


The ministry in New Zealand says it continues to be in contact with the WHO and was liaising with Australia over its response at this stage was.


"We are implementing the early stages of our pandemic response plan," a spokesman says.


Ministry of Health advisor Dr Greg Simmons says Customs are on the look out for people arriving in the country with flu-like illnesses.


http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/ministry-monitoring-swine-flu-pandemic-2674609

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ: Implementing the early stages of our pandemic response plan but no indication that this will be needed

Alert status

If there is an influenza pandemic, what happens?

For planning purposes the different stages of the health response in an influenza pandemic have been grouped and defined with colour codes: Code White, Code Yellow, Code Red and Code Green.

More information on these alert codes is included in the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Action Plan. In summary the codes mean:

Code White is information/advisory only, used in the planning stages of pandemic preparedness and for notification to the health sector of areas of concern overseas.

Code Yellow is a standby phase, used to alert the health sector when there has been a significant development in the virus overseas, or single isolated cases in New Zealand.

Code Red is the response phase, used to alert the health sector that they should activate their response plans.

Code Green is to notify the health sector to standdown response and move into the recovery phase.