Hawke’s Bay District Health Board well prepared

April 30, 2009

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board well prepared

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is well prepared for a pandemic and has been working to its Pandemic Plan since Monday.

Yesterday the DHB established its Emergency Operations Centre and Incident Management Team in response to the Swine Flu (Influenza H1N1) Alert, as part of its Pandemic Plan.

To date there is are still no known cases of Influenza A or Swine Flu in Hawke’s Bay.

The DHB is monitoring six “suspect” cases, which are people who have returned from the US or Mexico and have a flu like illness. These people have been quarantined and given Tamiflu.

There are an additional nine people who are close household contacts of the six “suspect” cases, who have been asked to quarantine themselves and offered Tamiflu.

The nine passengers on flight NZ1 remain well and will come out of quarantine tomorrow.

Medical Officer of Health Caroline McElnay said people who had recently returned from North America or Mexico and had flu like symptoms should ring their GP for advice, if they did not have a GP they should phone their nearest medical centre or contact Healthliine on 0800 611 116.

If people had not been in the US or Mexico and had influenza like symptoms then they probably had a seasonal influenza that should be treated in the normal manner with bed rest, fluids, paracetamol and self management unless symptoms are severe or prolonged. If people are concerned they should phone their GP or Healthline, she said.

Dr McElnay said when Tamiflu becomes available over the counter from pharmacies, tomorrow, it will only be dispensed if people are clearly unwell with symptoms of influenza.

Symptoms of Influenza are:

The normal symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, headache, muscle aches and pains, runny nose and sore throat.

Routine infection control advice for seasonal influenza is:
• Wash your hands well, especially after coughing/sneezing/blowing your nose: Wash hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap. Dry hands well, preferably with paper towels
• Blow your nose into a paper tissue, and put in a bin immediately. Wash your hands.
• Clean surfaces in your home with household bleach (1 part bleach to 4 parts water), especially surfaces touched often such as door handles.
• If you are feeling unwell, stay at home to prevent passing on bugs to other people.
• Contact your GP if you have prolonged or severe symptoms.

ENDS

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