Resources

National:

Ministry of Health phone lone 0800 AVNFLU (286 358)

Ministry of Health pandemic influenza Web site; www.moh.govt.nz/pandemicinfluenza

For information for businesses re preparing for pandemic influenza, see the Ministry of Economic Development Guide online at www.med.govt.nz

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Hotline ( for suspected animal cases ) 0800809966

Pandemic Postings - from Auckland Regional Public Health Service. 

The January 2006 Edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases (Vol 12, No 1) is dedicated to Pandemic Influenza, and covers many important topics around influenza epidemiology, virology, policy planning, personal and community protection, antivirals and vaccines

International:

World Health Organization: www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/

USA CDC
www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/

UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan
www.dh.gov.uk

World Health Organization Writing Group. Nonpharmaceutical interventions for pandemic influenza, international measures. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2005 Jan .
Available from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no01/05-1370.htm

Resources used within this site:

Influenza Type A: For further information of types, subtypes and strains refer http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/flu-viruses.htm

For a list of groups considered at higher risk from influenza and recommended to have seasonal influenza vaccination, see http://www.moh.govt.nz/publications/immunisationhandbook2002

Refer http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/spread.htm for further information on spread of avian influenza virus among birds.

Refer http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/transmission.htm
for further information on transmission of influenza A viruses between animals and people

For further information refer to: The origins of pandemic influenza - " Lessons from the 1918 virus " by Belshe R.B New England Journal of Medicine 353:2209 - 2211 Nov 24 2005

Get the latest data on confirmed cases reported to WHO at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/en/index.html

For avian influenza outbreaks, refer to the bi-weekly maps on the FAO website: http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/maps.html

Refer http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/ for update on recent avian influenza outbreaks and the risk to humans

Refer http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/avian-flu-humans.htm
for instances of avian to human infections since 1997

FluAid - available at http://www2.cdc.gov/od/fluaid/default.htm

Ref: Wilson N, Mansoor O, Baker M. Estimating the impact of the next influenza pandemic on population health and health sector capacity in New Zealand. NZ Med J 2004; 118:U1346. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1211/1346/

Ref: Wilson N, Baker M, Crampton P, Mansoor O. The potential impact of the next influenza pandemic on a national primary care medical workforce. Human Resources for Health 2005, 3:7 http://www.human-resources-health.com/content/3/1/7

There have been recorded examples of where the virus was likely to have been spread by the airborne route, however droplet transmission is thought to be the primary mode of influenza transmission

Ref: Sheat K. An investigation into an explosive outbreak of influenza - New Plymouth. Communicable Disease New Zealand 1992;92:18-19. http://bmj.com/cgi/eletters/331/7525/1145#122682

For patient information on influenza, avian influenza and pandemic influenza refer "Information about influenza" pdf from Ministry of Health Website

Ref: Ministry of Health Immunisation Handbook 2002 . Wellington, NZ

Difference between Influenza and a 'Cold': Patient Handout from NISG on the Ministry of Health website

National Health Emergency Plan: Infectious Diseases (NHEP:ID) (http://www.moh.govt.nz/nhep)

The Ministry of Health has also developed a specific Pandemic Influenza Action Plan

Ref: Wilson N, Mansoor O, Baker M. "Estimating the impact of the next influenza pandemic on population health and health sector capacity in New Zealand". NZ Med J 2004; 118:U1346. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1211/1346/

Intersectoral Response - in recognition that a pandemic will affect all levels of society the government has set up an Intersectoral Pandemic Planning Group.

New Zealand has developed an action plan based around the WHO pandemic phases:
Refer Table 2: Summary of New Zealand pandemic phases in this plan

The Ministry of Health have developed illustrative scenarios to consider these issues:
Scenario One from the plan (PDF)
Scenario Two from the plan (PDF)

Pandemic influenza has crossed into New Zealand and is either identified at the border, or from community surveillance, but is either still an isolated case or small clusters. The key issues in this phase is rapid identification of cases with good surveillance and public health responses of isolation and contact tracing
Phase 3, Scenario 3, Code Yellow (PDF)
Phase 3, Scenario 4, Code Yellow (PDF)
Phase 4 , Scenario 2, Code Red (PDF)

Here the pandemic has spread through the community.
Action Response (PDF)

Refer pdf document " Influenza Pandemic Planning: Planning Guide for Infrastructure Providers " October 2005

Operation Spandex Scenario - a planning exercise scenario from the Wellington Regional Public Health Service, 2005

For specific Ministry of Health advice on air conditioning and influenza refer www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf

Refer to " Interim Guidelines for Personal Protection and Using Personal Protective Equipment During an Influenza Pandemic " Ministry of Health 16 Sept 2005

Advise for patients who have recently travelled (PDF) from Ministry website

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 "

Some examples of primary health care plans:

• Ropata Medical Centre (appendix requires proper referencing)
• Pegasus Plan 

Information sheet on the use of antivirals for practice staff and patients Refer Ministry of Health information on Tamiflu ® at http://www.moh.govt.nz

Advice sheet that can be handed out to patients: RNZCGP Handout (PDF)

Communication Issues with communities: For a strategic plan refer Pegasus "Communications Activation Strategy (PDF)"

Handout available from the Ministry of Health "Getting Ready for a Pandemic (PDF)" . This covers general advice around preparing for an epidemic

Oseltamivir is licensed for both treatment and prophylaxis .

National Stockpile: Ref: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no09/04-1344.htm

Ministry of Health website for further information on antiviral supplies .

Tamiflu datasheet: http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/t/Tamiflucapsusp.htm

Further information around the process of development of a pandemic vaccine refer to presentation PowerPoint " CSL and Pandemic Preparedness " by Dave Bowler General Manager/ executive Director CSL(NZ) Ltd Dec 2005.

For further information around H5N1 vaccine development process view the National Institutes of Health website at http://www.vrc.nih.gov/Newsroom/Releases/flucontracts.htm