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Page contents: More information | Human influenza Pandemic Management Plans | Travel information | Avian influenza: updates & key facts

An influenza pandemic occurs when a highly infectious new strain emerges that humans have no immunity to. During a pandemic, the virus spreads rapidly around the world causing high rates of illness and death – and resulting in severe social and economic disruption. History has shown that pandemics tend to occur every 10-50 years.

Also known as ‘bird flu’, avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by the influenza virus. Since 2003 a virulent strain of avian influenza (H5N1) has infected birds in a series of outbreaks in Asia and Europe. Currently the virus does not easily pass from birds to humans and there is very limited evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Influenza viruses evolve rapidly and there is a risk that the virus could undergo genetic changes making it able to spread easily from person to person. If these changes occur, the virus could cause a pandemic.

In Australia, all levels of government have been working together to plan their response to and recovery from a human influenza pandemic.

Any evidence of an influenza pandemic in Australia would activate the National Action Plan for Pandemic influenza. Victoria also has a Pandemic influenza Plan, which details the steps that will be used by state government agencies and health services to manage an outbreak.

More information

Better Health Channel:

• Bird flu
  
• Flu vaccinations
  
• Flu facts: tips and treatment
  

Provided by the Victorian Government Department of Human Services (available from the Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Surveillance website):

• Avian influenza (bird flu)
• Fact Sheet - Seasonal/Avian/Pandemic influenza (flu) – Information for the general public (67kb, pdf)
• Fact Sheet - Pandemic influenza (flu) – Information for the general public – looking after yourself in a pandemic (101kb, pdf)
• Fact Sheet - Pandemic influenza (flu) – Information for people who may have been exposed to pandemic influenza and are isolated (95kb, pdf)

Provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing:

• Australia's Health Emergency influenza Pandemic Preparedness - What is the Government doing?
  
• What you can do to prepare
• Pandemic influenza - frequently asked questions
• Links to press releases, speeches, and information kits on pandemic influenza

Provided by the World Health Organization:

• Avian influenza

Provided by the Victorian Government Department of Primary Industries:

• Avian influenza (Bird Flu)

Human Influenza Pandemic Management Plans

Provided by the Victorian Government Department of Human Services:

• Victorian health management plan for pandemic influenza

Provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing:

• The Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

Provided by the Australian Government Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet:

• National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic

Travel information

Provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing:

• Avian influenza (Bird Flu) - Travel information

Provided by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade:

• Travel bulletins - Health: Avian influenza

Avian influenza: updates & key facts

Provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing:

• Avian influenza (Bird Flu) - Key Facts
• Avian influenza - Frequently asked questions
• Avian influenza News

Provided by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:

• Avian influenza
  

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