This is
the current situation
Swine
Flu
This
is the current situation
-
Nelson Marlborough DHB
Medical Officers of Health: The H1N1 swine flu is a new strain
of influenza virus. Members of the public who have
travelled to Mexico or North America in the last seven
days and have developed flu-like symptoms
should contact their GP by phone or
Healthline (0800 611 116). It is not recommended
these people commence Tamiflu without being assessed by
a GP or the Public Health Service. If they are a suspect
case they will qualify for Tamiflu through the national
stockpile
.
Seasonal
Flu
The
strains for 2009 flu vaccines: A(H1N1):
an A/ Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like strain , A(H3N2): an
A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like strain and a
B/Florida/4/2006-like strain. A flu vaccine gives good protection against
the specific strains included in it, however it takes 2
weeks after administration before the vaccine is fully
effective. Immunisation
can help protect an individual against all seasonal
influenza strains that are already circulating in the
world, but if a new strain of influenza virus emerges,
the seasonal vaccine is unlikely to protect against it
(NSIG).
National Influenza Strategy
Group:
Information Line: 0800 466 863 (0800 IMMUNE)
or www.influenza.org.nz
for Health Professionals and the General
Public.
If you want more “the Facts about Influenza”
leaflets for your pharmacies (Code HP4523) phone:
Wickliffe (03) 479 0979
Latest MoH update Thursday
30th
April:
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/mexican-swine-influenza-update-270409#mediareleases
Press
conferences: Live audio webcasts of the press
conferences are available –
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/mexican-swine-influenza-update-270409#pressconferences
Guidance
for Clinicians from the CDC is now available:
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/mexican-swine-influenza-update-270409#Guidance
Pharmaceutical Society of NZ
Inc:
Pharmacists may only dispense Tamiflu to
patients who have clear symptoms of influenza. A
pharmacist may not (including during flu season)
dispense Tamiflu to patients who are concerned that they
may develop influenza.
The CDC and WHO have reported
that the virus currently being discussed in the press as
a H1N1 "swine flu virus" has shown a response to
Tamiflu. www.psnz.org.nz
Roche also has the following
websites that may be of
use:
www.tamiflu.co.nz
www.haveigotflu.co.nz
GENEVA - The World Health
Organisation raised its pandemic alert for swine flu
on Wednesday, meaning that it believes a global outbreak
of the disease is imminent. A phase 5 alert means there
is sustained transmission among people in at least two
countries. Once the virus shows effective transmission
in two different regions of the world, a full pandemic
outbreak would be declared: phase 6. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
Pandemic and Flu info from
NMDHB: http://www.nmdhb.govt.nz/Pandemic.aspx
The preparations that have been put in place
locally, nationally and globally for a potential Avian
Flu pandemic are already being utilised to co-ordinate
the response to the threat from Swine
flu.
