H1N1 Australian govt approves vaccine

Tha Australian government has approved a vaccine for H1N1 Influenza. According to news reports 4.600 people have been hospitalized and 172 people have died from H1N1 virus to date in Australia. Initially vulnerable groups will be targeted to be administered with H1N1 vaccine. URL: [http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSSYD12162620090918]

China approves H1N1 vaccine – Al Jazeera.net report

According to an Al Jazeera.net news report today, China has approved a H1N1 vaccine ‘that works in a single dose’. URL: [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/09/2009934585472715.html]. At this time, some news reports also suggest that a significant number of health care workers may be expressing ambivalence about vaccinations. For example, refer to this report concerning staff in Hong Kong and in Britian:- URL: [http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1077837/Health-workers-refuse-H1N1-vaccine]. Clearly, one of the current challenges in health care management involves the ability to articulate approaches to care in the context of unpredictable developments in the transmission of influenza viruses including H1N1. In a sense, the question of whether health professionals and the public are confidently prepared for a range of contingencies may be a central concern.

Practice Nurse – Resource – Pandemic H1N1

The Australian Government’s Resource – Department of Health & Ageing – Clinical Management of Pandemic H1N1 2009 includes i) Introduction: nature of virus, spread, epidemiology and spectrum of illness to date ii) Mild illness H1N1 – expected symptoms & signs iii) Vulnerable populations iv) Recognition of moderate to severe illness – adults and children including a table of key clinical indicators to assist in the identification of sick children and babies v) Management considerations vi) Considerations for ongoing referral. URL: [http://www.apna.asn.au/associations/6694/files/090709_Clinical_ResourceH1N1_09-FinalGDL.pdf]

ASID/TSANZ guidelines: Treatment and prevention of H1N1 Influenza

Cheng, A. et al (2009) present their position statement on ASID/TSANZ guidelines: treatment and prevention of H1N1 influenza 09 (human swine influenza) with antiviral agents including i) process of guideline development ii) case recognition and diagnosis iii) neuraminidase inhibitors: oseltamivir and zanamivir iv) treatment of H1N1 in infants and children v) treatment of H1N1 in groups at risk of complications v1) treatment of severe H1N1 influenza 09 vii) prevention of H1N1 influenza 09 in health care workers and close contacts viii) prevention of H1N1 influenza in travellers  ix) other interventions x) updated information xi) treatment of H1N1 09 in otherwise healthy adults. URL: [http://www.mja.com.au/public/rop/cheng/che10661_fm.pdf]

H1N1 Call to Action August 2009

A number of non-governmental organizations proclaimed a call to action to reduce the impact of H1N1 2009. Refer to URL: [http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/swineflu/20090817_call_to_action_en.pdf]. The main aims these organizations identify include: i) identify populations at increased risk of disease & death ii) reduce death by treating acute respiratory illness & pneumonia iii) reduce spread of disease iv) continue critical services & plan for the worst, and v) plan & co-ordinate efforts. During the Australian spring and summer 2009, perhaps we should all continue to work to realize these aims. In particular, by improving practice in response to the current H1N1 pandemic we will be preventing the possibility of crises arising due to other more viralent Influenza A strains that may present in the future.