Influenza A H1N1 'Swine Flu'

For the latest and most up to date information regarding Influenza A H1N1 'Swine Flu', please go to the Ministry of Health website: http://www.moh.govt.nz/influenza-a-h1n1

Information for health professionals

For up to date information on guidance, case definitions, etc, please go to: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/influenza-a-h1n1-healthsector MoH Guidance on the diagnosis and management of Novel Influenza A - 1 July 2009 Collecting specimens for Influenza A H1N1

Pandemic Plans Primary Care (Waikato DHB area) Waikato DHB

Waikato Hospital – viral laboratory services update

14 August 2009
Numbers of both seasonal and swine influenza are now very low.  The likelihood that a person with influenza-like illness has the influenza virus is now < 5%. 

RSV continues at somewhat higher than usual numbers for the time of year and can be expected to continue for several more weeks.

This year’s influenza vaccine was a good match for the A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1) – like seasonal strain, which circulated in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.

Swine flu strains have been close to A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) v, which the World Health Organisation has recommended for vaccine production.

Specimen numbers have declined to about 100 per week and the backlog has now been cleared, although some results from ESR have yet to be reported. 

In addition to paediatric admissions tested for infection control purposes, we plan to test 10-20 patients per week over the summer.  This would promptly detect any ‘second wave’ of swine flu.

For further information please contact the Virology Laboratory, Waikato Hospital.

Status of response agencies

The National Health Coordination Centre continues to support operations across the health sector and coordinate the ‘all of Government’ response. 
DHBs are tasked with leading local responses. Government agencies are tasked with planning and leading responses for the sectors they serve, whilst maintaining critical business as usual activities.

For further updates or information and advice visit www.moh.govt.nz

Health advice and information

Medical officers of health still ask that people be aware of the dangers of seasonal influenza and practice good cough and sneeze etiquette, social distancing when unwell and good hand hygiene. Precautions remain: anyone with an influenza-like illness, who developed symptoms within seven days of travel to a country of concern, should call their general practitioner or the medical officers of health immediately. On-call health protection officer (021 999 521), on-call medical officer of health (021 359 650), or Healthline 0800 611 116.

For up-to-date information, visit www.moh.govt.nz

Preparedness for your organisation

Please ensure you have a pandemic plan in place in your business/organisations. If you do have an existing plan, now is the time to review and discuss it with staff and stakeholders.

For more information on planning for a pandemic go to www.moh.govt.nz/pandemicinfluenza