Swine Flu

The Federal Government has announced that Australia has developed a new response phase called 'Protect' to manage the outbreak of H1N1 Influenza 09.

'Protect' recognises that the infection is not as severe as originally envisaged. The disease is mild in most cases, severe in some and moderate overall. The overwhelming majority of patients are making a rapid and full recovery.

Key elements of the new phase include:

• A focus on early detection and treatment of people who may be vulnerable to severe outcomes.
• Identification and early treatment of those with moderate or severe disease, especially in people with respiratory difficulty.
• Control of outbreaks through testing and treatment in institutional settings, such as special schools, residential aged care facilities and prisons.
• Voluntary home isolation for those with mild disease with supportive treatment only, such as over the counter medication. Antiviral therapy will not be provided to these patients or their household contacts, unless they belong to vulnerable groups or are in institutional settings. Contacts will not be placed into quarantine.

Measures specific to Western Australia

As part of the new phase, the WA Department of Health has advised the following will now apply in Western Australia:

• Contacts of confirmed cases will not routinely be placed in quarantine.
• Voluntary school exclusion policy will no longer be applied.
  From Thursday 18 June 2009, children do not need to be kept home from school for seven days after visiting areas where swine flu is prevalent. However, parents are urged to keep children at home if they are unwell to protect their class mates from illness.
• The Department of Health will no longer routinely close schools if students are found to have human swine influenza.
• People with mild flu-like symptoms do not need to go to a doctor or hospital or to be tested for human swine flu. By staying home and resting until well, most people will recover by themselves within a few days.

Preventative tips for staff and students

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Place used tissues straight in the rubbish bin.
• Use alcohol gel and similar handwash products, particularly if you have extensive contact with the public.
• Wash and dry your hands often, especially after sneezing or coughing.
• If you are sick, stay home.

Additional information is available from the WA Department of Health.