Current situation
Numbers of confirmed cases of the Swine Influenza (officially Influenza A - H1N1) in Australia are continuing to increase. Victoria's current Human Swine Flu case numbers are:
Laboratory confirmed cases -
2584
Current H1N1 inpatients -
28 Of current H1N1 patients - 13 in Intensive Care Unit
Total number of deaths associated with Human Swine Flu - 15
(July 24)
The Australian Government influenza pandemic alert remains in 'Protect' phase across most Australian states. In Victoria the 'Protect' phase means the government will continue to focus its efforts on people in the community who are most at risk of severe illness. While most cases have been mild, for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be severe: in Australia, approximately 2,500 people die from seasonal flu annually. In all cases of deaths associated with Human Swine Flu - all were suffering from other 'underlying' conditions.
The Victorian government is now focusing its treatment on members of the community most vulnerable to influenza, such as the elderly, students at special development schools, hospital patients and people with a chronic illness. For details of the Protect Phase and what it means to you: Victorian Government Media Release [pdf] or go to the Department of Health website.
The latest advice from Victoria's Chief Health Officer (July 24) is:
Pregnant women are not more at risk of catching human swine flu than the general population. However, there is an increased risk of complications during pregnancy, as with any type of flu, especially in the third trimester. Pregnant women are reminded to take extra care with hand hygiene this flu season, and to see their GP promptly if they develop flu-like symptoms.
The vast majority of cases of Human Swine Flu continue to be mild, and most
people with the illness are recovering without any medical treatment.
This virus is behaving like a usual seasonal influenza virus, that is, it is mild and self limiting in the vast majority of people. The increased level of influenza-like illness, and laboratory confirmed cases is consistent with usual patterns at this time of the year. Also, Victoria has had a much more extensive testing program than other states, and therefore we are finding community cases that may be missed in other states.
The virus has mainly affected young people, and many are mild infections. As young people mix and travel, it is inevitable that infections will spread, so having artificial travel or event restrictions is not a logical approach. Therefore, there is no medical or public health reason to defer travel to Victoria or to cancel major events.
Schools will no longer be closed
Students who are ill should be kept at home. Schools and early childhood providers that are currently closed due to H1N1 Influenza can re-open. Information on schools.
Businesses
All organisations should encourage staff who are ill not to come to work and to seek appropriate medical care if necessary.
Advice for Health and Safety Reps
Employers need to be examining and updating their management plans and strategies to protect their workforce, as the flu can spread quickly in workplaces.In addition to the OHS implications, there are clear 'industrial' implications: what provisions are in place which enable workers to stay home, whether they have contracted the flu themselves or whether they are required to look after children whose schools/child care centres may have been required to close.
What to do:
-
Review the employer's
health
and
safety
programs
The first step is to decide if the employer is ready to deal with the health and safety issues of pandemic flu in the workplace. Reps need to look at the employer's current programs, plans and policies so see whether they include an infection control plan for pandemic flu. Reps need to ask for copies of these programs and plans if they don't already have them. The plans should include the following:
- General health and safety program for the workplace,
- An overall plan to help prevent the spread of the virus (infection control program - see AMA advice below),
- Ways to identify workers most likely to be exposed or activities that are likely to expose workers,
- Methods to control the spread of the virus,
- A plan to monitor workers' health (section 22 of the OHS Act) to assist in identifying workers who may have H1N1,
- Training on pandemic flu in the workplace and how workers will be told about risks, and
- A plan to keep equipment and surfaces clean.
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Use the OHS Committee
The OHS Committee should look over all employer health and safety plans - if there is no meeting planned, then the reps on the committee need to call an extraordinary meeting. The committee should decide if these plans will protect workers during a pandemic flu by asking the following:- Are the current plans adequate to deal with the issues related to pandemic flu?
- Can the plans be adapted with small changes in order to deal with pandemic flu?
- Do the plans need major changes?
- Do the plans need to be rewritten to include pandemic flu programs or policies?
After considering these matters, the committee should make recommendations for change in order to protect the workers during a flu pandemic.If necessary, reps can seek the assistance of the union to negotiate or develop a pandemic flu plan.
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Review policies that may affect workers
Reps should look over other policies that may affect workers during a flu pandemic. These policies should be amended to make sure they help workers and the employer when a flu pandemic arrives.
Examples of such policies:- Sick leave and pay (should assist and support workers with the flu to stay home). For instance, the Queensland government has in place arrangements, should a 'Public Health Declaration' be issued, giving public servants access to an additional 20 days' sick leave if they have used up their existing sick leave entitlements.
- Family leave and pay (should assist and support workers stay home to take care of family members). Again, in Queensland, any public service employee whose child or family member falls ill will be entitled to up to 20 days of Special Pandemic Leave, if their regular carer’s leave and sick leave have been exhausted.
- Policy for missing work (should not punish workers for staying home because of their own or a family member's illness)
- Working from home (allowing workers to do this when possible)
- Travel policy (any unnecessary travel, particularly overseas, should be cancelled; what happens when employees return from overseas?)
- Sick leave and pay (should assist and support workers with the flu to stay home). For instance, the Queensland government has in place arrangements, should a 'Public Health Declaration' be issued, giving public servants access to an additional 20 days' sick leave if they have used up their existing sick leave entitlements.
-
Put policies and programs into action
Reps, and their unions, should be encouraging employers to put health and safety policies for a flu pandemic in place now. Some of the actions that can be started immediately include:- Worker training
- Monitoring of workers' health
- Medical evaluations and fit-testing for respirators
- Gathering health and safety items (eg respirators and other personal protective equipment, soap and hand washing materials, etc)
- Studying the risks of coming into contact with the virus
- Supporting and allowing workers to stay home when they have flu-like symptoms and
- A vaccination program for seasonal flu
(based on the AFL-CIO Factsheet)
WorkSafe Advice
WorkSafe has released a document providing information and advice to employers on managing health and safety risks associated with an influenza pandemic - its focus is on the H1N1 flu: OHS preparedness for an influenza pandemic: A guide for employersThe document explains how employers' duties under the Act apply to a flu pandemic. It also recommends that every organisation should ensure they have a 'business continuity plan' - that is a contingency plan of action to manage the business risk of a particular event, in this case the flu pandemic. It states:
Good OHS practice in planning for a pandemic requires the employer to:
- Keep informed and up-to-date on pandemic information.
- Educate and keep employees up to date.
- Undertake OHS risk management by managing the direct and indirect risks.
- Incorporate OHS preparations and risk control measures into a business continuity plan.
- Review and evaluate risk control measures.
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Plan and manage the recovery phase of a pandemic.
Comcare advice
For workers under the Comcare system: Comcare says that organisations without a flu pandemic preparedness plan should do so immediately using the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s publication Pandemic planning in the workplace (see link below)As a precautionary measure, Comcare suggests that organisations should also take the following steps to manage the risk for their people and operations:
- identify any potential hazards
- assess the risks (e.g. potential for exposure, level of exposure)
- implement appropriate control measures (e.g. Personal Protective Equipment, working from home arrangements)
- continuously inform employees of the potential risks from this strain of influenza
- stay up-to-date (e.g. monitor the media and health organisation reports) regarding any further developments that may have implications to the organisation.
Advice for individuals
Be immunisedThe seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to provide protection against Human Swine Flu, however it is still recommended as protection against seasonal flu for people over 65 years old and those with chronic medical conditions. The pneumococcal vaccine is also recommended for people over 65 and those with underlying medical conditions.
Know your risk
People who are at high risk due to conditions such as pregnancy, respiratory disease (such as asthma), heart disease, diabetes, renal disease, obesity and immunosuppression, are reminded to present to their doctor if they develop respiratory symptoms, so they can be treated as soon as possible.
Good hygiene remains vital
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Throw the tissue in a plastic-lined rubbish bin after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread that way.
- Don’t go to work or school if you have a mild flu-like illness.
- Please call your GP if you have a moderate flu-like illness.
- Please call your local hospital
ONLY if you are seriously unwell with flu like symptoms.
More Information
- The Victorian Government - Health department webpage on Swine Flu, including
'latest news' page Also:
- Call the Influenza Hotline on 180 2007 or
- Call Nurse-on-Call on 1300 606 024 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
- Doctors who want to report a suspected case call 1300 651 160
- Call the Influenza Hotline on 180 2007 or
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Preparing for a pandemic influenza - from the Federal Department of Health and Ageing
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National Action plan for Human Influenza Pandemic - from this page on the Prime Minister and Cabinet website, there's a downloadable document: Pandemic Planning in the Workplace
- The AFL-CIO, the peak US union council, has a
webpage with a number of factsheets on the H1N1 flu epidemic, including background information, worker protection and infection control, and specific advice for health care workers.
- The WHO page on Swine Influenza. Information on this page tracks the evolving situation and provides access to both technical guidelines and information useful for the general public.