Primary Health Care Preparedness

Be on Alert for an Index Case

With the current worldwide heightened alert to the risk of pandemic influenza we need to be vigilant now for the possibility of a case of pandemic influenza appearing in a practice setting.

• Be vigilant for the possibility of a case
• Plan how to identify a high-risk patient when they present
• Plan how to manage a patient within the context of your practice setting
  • Keeping distance between the patient and staff, other patients
  • Practising infection control in all practice activities
  • Wearing surgical masks and gloves, mask for patient and support people
  • Rigorous, frequent hand hygeine, or the use of antiseptic hand gel if no water available. If hands are visibly soiled or feel coated from multiple gel applications, they should always be washed with warm soap and water. Antiseptic hand gel is appropriate for about 5-6 applications between soap and water washing
  • Good ventilation in the practice ie open windows or well maintained air conditioning
  • Identifying areas to isolate these patients from others
  • Use the Ministry of Health poster "Protect and Prevent" as a resource for staff information
  • Use the Ministry of Health poster "Travel Health" as a resource for the waiting room

View the flow chart from the Ministry resource "Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic: a practical guide for Primary Health Care"

Case Identification:

• On suspicion, immediately ring the local Medical Officer of Health for advice.
• H5N1 infection is a notifiable disease, and should be notified on suspicion.
• Diagnosis will require obtaining a good quality viral nasopharyngeal swab. There are high risks of spreading the virus in doing a nasopharyngeal swab so it is advised to TAKE ADVICE in your local area as to the best way of obtaining an urgent specimen, rather than taking your own sample.