The Northern Territory health system is meeting the challenges of H1N1 Human Swine Influenza (swine flu), as cases are identified across Australia, including in the NT where confirmed cases now total 17 (see details below).
The NT is well prepared to face anticipated needs, with access to ample stocks of antiviral medications such as Tamiflu, personal protection equipment for clinical staff and patients, and swabbing material.
NT Chief Health Officer, Dr Barbara Paterson, said today that because GPs are an important part of the frontline of defence against swine flu many practices had understandably been stocking up on diagnostic items. These include nasal/throat swabs.
"Our Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is aware that temporary shortages of swabs have occurred in other parts of Australia, and they have been in regular contact with both local distributors and GPs.
"One distributor had a shortage in their swab supply but this issue was rectified overnight and no GP surgeries have reported to CDC that they have run out of swabs.
"Additionally all of our hospitals, health clinics and the CDC have good supplies of swabs and other relevant items, as well as the capacity to maintain stocks in the face of likely future demand," Dr Paterson said.
"All appropriate public health measures are being taken within the NT."
The Northern Territory has 17 confirmed cases of human swine influenza (H1N1), with six cases being confirmed yesterday. Four of these new cases are in Darwin (two adult females, a teenage boy and a younger boy), and two teenage girls in Alice Springs.
Their contacts are currently being followed up. All of the new cases involved travel to, or contact with, cases from Victoria.
All of the new cases are associated with travel from Victoria and all 17 NT cases have been linked with travel overseas or to parts of Australia with known community transmission.
Pathology testing for suspect H1N1 cases is advisable for people with fever and respiratory illness who have travelled from USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Panama, Chile, Argentina and Victoria.
* The Human Swine Influenza page on the Department of Health and Families website http://www.health.nt.gov.au carries an updated table of swine flu figure and other information.
Media contact: Robin Osborne, DHF Director of Media, 0488 692 781.
Release date: Saturday, 13 June 2009
