General Practice communication over the Festive Season break

Over the Festive Season break (21 December 2009 to 4 January 2010), general practices are asked to monitor the following websites for information and updates regarding the Pandemic H1N1 09 situation and the H1N1 vaccination program.

1. Queensland Health
   www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu
   
   
2. World Health Organization
   www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
   
   
3. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing -  H1N1 Influenza 09 latest news
   www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/
   Content/health-swine_influenza-index.htm

For any concerns please telephone 13HEALTH (13 432584) for information or contact your local Population Health Unit.

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General Practice Queensland is working with Queensland Health and will continue to provide any urgent or important information to divisions of general practice for distribution to Queensland general practices.  

The information on this page is updated upon receipt of new information.

• H1N1 INFLUENZA A 09 - GENERAL INFORMATION
• UPDATES ON THE CURRENT SITUATION
• CLINICAL ADVICE UPDATES
  
• PANDEMIC PLANS
• INFORMATION FOR DIVISIONS
• RESOURCES
• BUSINESS PLANNING
• TRAVEL INFORMATION
• USEFUL WEBSITES
• CONTACT DETAILS
• FOR MORE INFORMATION

H1N1 INFLUENZA A 09 - GENERAL INFORMATION

• Queensland Health (QH)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

UPDATES ON THE CURRENT SITUATION

• Current National Phase of Pandemic Alert: PROTECT
• Current Global Phase of Pandemic Alert: PHASE 6 - PANDEMIC
  
  
• Latest -- GPQ H1N1 Influenza 09 Update 2 (13 August 2009)
  
• Latest -- GPQ H1N1 Influenza 09 Update 1 (10 August 2009)
  
• Latest -- Advice for Prescribing and Dispensing Antiviral Medication (SHECC - 10 August 2009)
• Latest -- URGENT Public Health Alert - H1N1 Influenza A Update (28 July 2009)
  
• Latest -- Queensland Health advice to Medical Practitioners - PROTECT phase (24 July 2009) 
• Latest -- Chief Health Officer Update for Medical Practitioners (27 July 2009)

Queensland

• Queensland - H1N1 Influenza A Update (QH) 
• Outbreak News Updates - media release (QH)
• Queensland Health News updates on Twitter (QH) 

National

• National - H1N1 Influenza A Update (DoHA)
• National - H1N1 Influenza A Update (RACGP) 
• National Phases of Pandemic Alert (Australian Government)  

Global

• Global – H1N1 Influenza A Update (WHO)
• Media Release: World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic (WHO) 
• Current WHO Phase of Pandemic Alert (22 May 2009) (WHO)
• What is Phase 6? (WHO) 
• Map of the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) (WHO)
• WHO News updates on Twitter (WHO) 

 

CLINICAL ADVICE UPDATES

• Advice for Prescribing and Dispensing Antiviral Medication (SHECC - 10 August 2009)
  
• Referral for Admission - Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza (QH)
• Advice for Staff Working in Health Care Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (QH)

PANDEMIC PLANS

Queensland

• The Queensland Government Pandemic Influenza Plan 2009 - Describes the state governance arrangements and key strategies to prepare for, respond to and recover from an influenza pandemic in Queensland.
  
• Guide for Queensland Government agencies key response actions H1N1 Influenza A 09 (Human Swine Influenza) (April 2009) - Provides a concise summary of the key response actions that would be required should the current H1N1 strain of Human Swine Influenza, or any other human virus, becomes an influenza pandemic in Queensland. 

National

• The Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza 2008 (AHMPPI 2008) - Describes a national health plan for responding to an influenza pandemic, based on international best practice and evidence. 
  
  
• The National Action Plan for Human Influenza A Pandemic (NAP) (April 2009) - Describes how the Australian Government and state, territory and local governments will cooperate in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery from a human influenza pandemic. 
  
  
• Interim Infection Control Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza in Healthcare and Community Settings (June 2006) - Contains guidance primarily for health professionals regarding infection control for healthcare and community settings, in the management of pandemic influenza patients, agreed by experts from an infection control working group of the National Influenza Pandemic Action Committee.

Global

• H1N1 Influenza A 09 Guidance documents (WHO) - technical guidance for professionals is being regularly released
  

INFORMATION FOR DIVISIONS

• Public Health Alerts / H1N1 Updates from GPQ
  • GPQ H1N1 Influenza 09 Update 1 (10 August 2009) 
  • IMPORTANT Public Health Alert - H1N1 Influenza A Update (16 July 2009)
  • IMPORTANT Public Health Alert - H1N1 Influenza A Update (6 July 2009)
  • URGENT Public Health Alert sent to General Practice (19 June 2009)
  • URGENT Public Health Alert sent to General Practice (18 June 2009)
    
  • URGENT Public Health Alert  - H1N1 Influenza A Update (12 June 2009)
    
  • URGENT Public Health Alert - H1N1 Influenza A Update (25 May 2009)
  • URGENT Public Health Alert - Update Swine Influenza (1 May 2009)
  • URGENT Public Health Alert - Swine Influenza A outbreak (30 April 2009)
    
  • URGENT Public Health Alert - Update Swine Flu Outbreak (28 April 2009)
  • URGENT Public Health Alert - New Strain of Influenza A (27 April 2009)
    
• Queensland Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guide for General Practice (GPpartners)
• GCDGP Local Pandemic Influenza Communication Plan for General Practice
• Pandemic Flu Kit (RACGP)
• Influenza Pandemic Planning Workbook (RACGP)
  
  
• Tamiflu Information
  • Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) - information for prescribers (QH)
  • Use of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) - information for patients (QH)
  • Dosing and Administration Update: Information for medical practitioners (Roche)
    
• FYI: Health Professionals Alert - Change to dispensing Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) (25 June 2009) (Victoria Government)
• Personal Protective Equipment for Respiratory Precautions Advice (QH)
• Specimen Collection for Respiratory Viruses (QH)
• While staying at home – Information for patients in home quarantine (QH)

RESOURCES

General

Am I at risk? - brochure Keep the flu off you - Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders Symptoms Alert (QH)  - colour Symptoms Alert (QH) -  black and white Question & Answers (QH)  Patient Alert (RACGP) ‘Bug alert’ Flu symptom (RACGP) Staff Influenza notice (DoHA) Flu and you brochure (DoHA) Flu and you poster (DoHA)

Personal Hygiene

Hygiene (QH) Cough Etiquette and Respiratory Hygiene (DoHA) How to clean hands using an alcohol-based liquid or hand rub (DoHA) How to wash and dry hands with soap and water (DoHA)

Personal Protective Equipment

Infection Control in pandemics (RACGP) Correct Use of Personal Protective Equipment (RACGP) Putting on a mask (RACGP) Disposing of a mask (RACGP) How to fit and remove (DoHA) personal protective equipment in the correct order  protective gloves a protective gown   a surgical mask a P2 (N95) respirator protective eyewear

Fact Sheets

Pandemic and seasonal influenza (DoHA) Transmission of respiratory disease and managing the risk (DoHA)  Infection control precautions for severe respiratory disease (DoHA)

 
BUSINESS PLANNING

• Prepare your Practice - Prepare your practice for the possibility of an influenza pandemic
  
  
• Business Continuity Guide for Australian Businesses (DoHA) - This guide provides Australian businesses and other organisations with a range of tools and information to help them prepare for a human influenza pandemic in Australia.
  
  
• Business Planning Fact Sheets (QH) - Fact sheets on preparing your business.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

• Smartraveller (DFAT) - The Australian Government's travel advisory and consular assistance service - H1N1 Influenza A 09 (Human Swine Influenza)
• Travel Health Information Leaflet
• Border Control - media release (Minister for Health and Ageing)

USEFUL WEBSITES

• Queensland Health 
• Department of Health and Ageing
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• World Health Organisation 
• Royal Australian College of General Practice
• Communicable Disease Network Australia
• Influenza Specialists Group

CONTACT DETAILS

For all public enquiries, please contact:

To limit the spread of influenza it is recommended that patients with influenza-like symptoms to phone 13HEALTH or your GP prior to presenting to general practice:

• Your local GP
• Your local Population Health Unit
• Queensland Health Helpline: TEL 13 432 584 or 13HEALTH - take the worry out of health concerns
• National Commonwealth Hotline for Human Swine Influenza TEL 180 2007 - public information line

For GP use only, please contact:

• Queensland Health Helpline: TEL 13 432 584 or 13HEALTH - take the worry out of health concerns
• Your Local Division of General Practice

For all stakeholder enquiries, please contact:

• Queensland Health, Human Swine Influenza: Stakeholder email: flu_stakeholder@health.qld.gov.au.
  

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information, please contact General Practice Queensland:

Elise Gorman, Program Coordinator
Email: egorman@gpqld.com.au