Preparations underway for Health Response to Flu

MEDIA RELEASE
27 April 2009 1615 hours
Preparations underway for Health Response to Swine Flu Threat

Lakes and Bay of Plenty DHBs are currently monitoring the national and international information coming in regarding the human swine influenza outbreak.

Yesterday the Minister of Health announced that the country was in Code Yellow which is a heightened state of awareness and border management.

The DHBs are making preparations to handle a pandemic. Considerable work has been done on the joint emergency management arrangement between Bay of Plenty and Lakes DHBs to manage an outbreak of influenza. Adequate stocks of Tamiflu are on hand and these will be managed through the Medical Officers of Health for the two DHBs.

Toi Te Ora Public Health, the public health unit that provides public health services to the Lakes and Bay of Plenty DHBs is activating an Emergency Operations Centre. Additionally, the two DHBs have organised arrangements for their emergency planning structure and are preparing information for staff and health providers, along with monitoring the local situation and liaising with the Ministry of Health.

Members of the public who have travelled to Mexico or North America in the last fortnight should contact Healthline (0800 611 116) for information regarding the situation. They should seek medical advice if they are displaying flu-like symptoms.

The current focus for health professionals is people who are feeling unwell who have returned from travel to Mexico or North America in the last two weeks, or those who have been in household contact with people off the two flights that landed on Saturday, NZ1 and NZ5.

Any one who has travelled to North America or Mexico in the last two weeks and was showing flu-like symptoms is urged to contact their GP. Everyone is being urged to follow the precautions such as thorough hand washing and covering mouths when coughing or sneezing.

ENDS

Recommended Measures to Help Prevent the Spread of Flu

1. Wash your hands
a. By washing your hands with soap under warm running water, you will reduce your chance of getting the flu.
b. Alcohol-based hand gel can also be used if soap and water are not readily available. It’s a good idea to keep some with you in your pocket or purse when you travel.
2. Practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette.
a. Cover your mouth and/or nose to reduce the spread of germs. Remember to wash your hands afterwards.
3. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
4. Cover your mouth and nose to reduce the spread of germs. Remember to wash your hands afterwards.
5. Monitor your health.
6. If you develop flu-like symptoms when you return to New Zealand, you should seek medical attention immediately. Ring first if possible.
7. Tell the health care provider who sees you that you have been travelling to North America and/or Mexico.

© Scoop Media