Factsheets - Pandemic influenza

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Pandemic influenza
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General Information about influenza

What is influenza?
Influenza (the flu) is a highly infectious illness caused by a virus. It is much more serious than a common cold and will leave you ill for up to 10 days.

It may take up to three days to feel symptoms after you catch influenza (the incubation period). Symptoms include:

a high fever
headache
muscle aches and pains
fatigue
cough
sore throat.

Influenza can be a mild or severe illness depending on the type of influenza virus causing it, and the age and general health of the person affected.

Anyone can get influenza — being fit, active and healthy does not protect you from getting this virus.

Anyone can die from influenza — it kills at least 100 New Zealanders every year, including some young, fit people.

Seasonal influenza
What can you do to prevent getting or spreading seasonal influenza?

Every year, ask your doctor to vaccinate you against seasonal influenza. Because the influenza virus changes frequently, you need to get vaccinated every year.

Vaccination is free for people aged 65 years and over, and adults and children with certain long-term (chronic) conditions. Your GP will know if you are eligible for a free vaccination.

Influenza is very easily spread through coughs and sneezes. If you have influenza, avoid public places and close contact with other people. Always cough and sneeze into a disposable tissue. Put the tissue in a rubbish bin and wash your hands well afterwards.

For more information about seasonal influenza vaccination see theSeasonal Influenza page on the Ministry of Health website.

Avian influenza
What is avian influenza (bird flu)?

There are many types of influenza virus, some of which infect birds. These are avian influenza viruses.

Very rarely, an avian influenza virus can also infect people. One current avian influenza virus – H5N1 – has infected some people.

Avian influenza causes severe influenza-like symptoms in people and may result in death. Since December 2003, outbreaks of H5N1 in birds in several countries have been associated with human cases and deaths. The virus cannot yet spread easily from person to person. The great majority of cases have been infected through contact with birds. There have been a small number of cases where spread between people may have occurred, but this has been between close relatives.

There are currently no commercially available vaccines that will protect people against the H5N1 avian influenza.

Why are health authorities concerned about avian influenza?
The World Health Organization is worried that an avian influenza virus and a human influenza virus might mix. This could result in a new strain of influenza virus that can be easily passed from person to person. The new influenza virus could spread rapidly around the world, infecting many people. This would be an influenza pandemic.

An influenza pandemic could cause many deaths and could occur at any time. It would not necessarily be a winter illness.

Pandemic influenza
How likely is an influenza pandemic?
It is certain an influenza pandemic will happen one day. Influenza A (h1N1) Swine Flu was declared a pandemic by the world Health Organization on 11 June 2009.

What is New Zealand doing to prepare for an influenza pandemic?
Led by the Ministry of Health, the New Zealand Government has been preparing for a pandemic for some years. The New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Action Plan is continually being updated in line with World Health Organization recommendations. District Health Boards have local plans too.

A pandemic is likely to affect many aspects of day-to-day life in New Zealand, the effects will not be limited to the health sector. Plans have been made for most eventualities, such as potential school closures, border management and the maintenance of critical infrastructure, including supply of food and water and law and order.

The New Zealand Government, following the advice of the World Health Organization, has on hand large reserve supplies of clinical and other supplies suitable for use against influenza viruses. No decision on the best use of these supplies will be made by Government until the nature of the next pandemic is known.

Is there a vaccine available for an influenza pandemic?
The Ministry of Health has a formal arrangement with Australia's CSL Ltd - the only influenza vaccine manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere - which gives us a guaranteed supply if we need a pandemic vaccine. However, manufacture of such a vaccine can only start once we know the strain of the virus causing the pandemic, and so a vaccine is not currently available.

What could happen in an influenza pandemic?
A pandemic could mean so many people are sick that it will affect workplaces, schools, hospitals and many other services. There would be public announcements on TV, the radio and through other media channels that there is an influenza pandemic.

Some workplaces and schools may close. Normal health and other services may not be available for several weeks. You may be asked to care for yourself and others at home.

How can you prepare for an influenza pandemic?

Talk to your family and friends about health hygiene – hand washing, and safe coughing and sneezing.
Make sure you have an emergency survival kit for all emergencies. Plan for having about a week's worth of essential supplies such as non-perishable food, as well as plenty of fluids. A checklist is available on the Ministry of Health website. For further information on emergency preparedness see the inside back cover of the Yellow Pages, or check the Get Ready Get Thru website and select 'How to get ready'.
Include paracetamol or ibuprofen (for fever) in your home emergency survival kit.
Have a plan for what you and your family would do if you had to stay at home during a pandemic.

How do you care for yourself and your family during an influenza pandemic?

Stay home if you are sick and keep away from other people – avoid visitors and visiting other people.
Wash and dry your hands after you cough, sneeze, wipe or blow your nose (or your child’s nose), use the bathroom or toilet. Wash and dry your hands before you prepare food and eat, and when you are looking after sick people.
Keep coughs and sneezes covered. Tissues are best. Put the tissue in a rubbish bin.
Give people who have a fever and/or diarrhoea plenty to drink.
Give paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever. Do not give aspirin to children under 12.
Try to keep well people and sick people apart.
Sharing bedding, clothing and utensils may spread infection, but you do not need to wash a sick person’s bedding, clothing and utensils separately from the rest of the family's.

Getting ready for a pandemic
When a new flu virus infects many people around the world, it is called an influenza pandemic.

Health experts and governments around the world are worried that the flu virus H5N1 affecting birds (avian influenza or bird flu) could change into a virus that easily affects people. If this happens, and the new virus enters New Zealand, many of us could become very sick.

Here are a few simple things you can do now to prepare for a pandemic.

Have a plan

Make a plan with family and friends, which includes:
- Who could help with food and supplies if you and your household are ill
- The telephone numbers of people who live near you, as well as your doctor's phone number (keep this in a place that is easy to see, like on the fridge door – you can use the resource 'Preparing your household for flu pandemic'
If you have prescription medicines (eg, for blood pressure), renew your prescription well before you run out.

Build up your emergency supplies kit

Have a supply of food and drinks to last for at least a week. Choose long lasting foods in cans and packets and dried foods.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen are good for bringing down a fever and reducing aches and pains. Do not use anything else for children unless you talk to your doctor or pharmacist first.
Masks worn by sick people can help stop the spread of germs. You can buy masks from a pharmacy (or from a hardware store). If there is a pandemic, people will be told how and when to use their masks. A mask can be worn only for a short time, and needs changing when wet from sneezing and coughing.
Have tissues (or toilet paper) and plastic bags – supermarket bags are good – to put the used tissues into.
Think about things to do if you and your family have to stay home for a couple of weeks (eg, books, games and videos).

For further information on emergency preparedness see the inside back cover of the Yellow Pages, or check the Get Ready Get Thru website and select 'How to get ready'.

Consider a flu jab

Ask your doctor for an influenza vaccination each year. The usual yearly flu jabs will not protect you against a new pandemic, but they will help stop you getting ill with other influenza viruses. Because these viruses change all the time, you need to get vaccinated every year.
Vaccination is free for people aged 65 years and over, and adults and children with certain long-term (chronic) conditions.

Hygiene - keeping clean

Washing and drying your hands properly is one of the best ways of protecting yourself against the spread of germs. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with either soap or an alcohol-based rub. Drying hands well is important too.
Wash and dry hands:
- before preparing food and eating
- after coughing or sneezing, blowing noses, wiping children's noses, visiting the toilet or looking after sick people
Keep your coughs and sneezes covered. Tissues are best. Put the tissue in a covered, lined rubbish bin or a plastic bag.
Try to stay a metre away from sick people to reduce the spread of germs.

If you work from home or run your own business

You need to think about how to keep your business running. You will find some ideas in the Business Planning Guide at www.med.govt.nz - select from the list 'Influenza Pandemic Planning Information for Business Continuity' then select '1.Business Continuity Planning Guide.'
You may want to talk to your insurance provider about your cover.

More information on influenza and planning for an influenza pandemic is available on this website.

Preparing for a pandemic

What should people do now to prepare for an influenza pandemic?

Have a plan and talk to friends and family about their plans. Write a list of the things you need to remember.

Talk to your family and friends about hygiene – hand washing and drying, and safe coughing and sneezing.

Make sure you have an emergency survival kit for all emergencies. In the event of a pandemic you would need to include paracetamol or ibuprofen (for fever) in your kit. Plan for having about a week's worth of essential supplies such as non-perishable food, as well as plenty of fluids. A checklist is available on the Ministry of Health website. For further information on emergency preparedness see the Get Ready Get Thru website and select 'How to get ready'.

Have a plan for what you and your family would do if you had to stay at home during a pandemic. Know who you might need to contact and who might need to contact you. Print out the resource ‘Preparing your household for a flu pandemic’ and put in on your fridge.

What is New Zealand doing to prepare for an influenza pandemic?

Led by the Ministry of Health, the New Zealand Government has been preparing for a pandemic for some years. The New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Action Plan is continually being updated in line with World Health Organization recommendations. District Health Boards have local plans too.

A pandemic is likely to affect many aspects of day-to-day life in New Zealand, the effects will not be limited to the health sector. Plans have been made for most eventualities, such as potential school closures, border management and the maintenance of critical infrastructure, including supply of food and water and law and order.

The New Zealand Government, following the advice of the World Health Organization, has on hand large reserve supplies of clinical and other supplies suitable for use against influenza viruses. No decision on the best use of these supplies will be made by Government until the nature of the next pandemic is known.

Page last updated: 27 April 2009