Surveillance of Influenza activity for Australia & New Zealand

This report provides a summary of surveillance data collected from around Australia and New Zealand. Simply click on any of the regions listed.

Australia

• New South Wales
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia
• Nationally

New Zealand

Last year there was a large increase in the number of febrile seizures in young children following influenza vaccination. This was noted particularly in Western Australia, which was conducting a study of the benefits of a free influenza vaccination program for children aged 6months to 4 years. These reactions were associated with a single brand of vaccine (Fluvax) and not with the others in use last year. Fluvax was withdrawn from use in children last year and is no longer registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use in young children. Other vaccines found to be safe in 2010 have been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and are available for use in young children in 2011.

2011 Flu Season

The flu season is rapidly approaching, and the ISG will soon be announcing details of its 2011 awareness program launch.

It is also pleasing to know that other organisations are preparing for the 2011 flu season, such as the Rural Health Education Foundation (RHEF).

The Rural Health Education Foundation is a not-for profit organisation that works to improve the health and well-being of rural and remote Australians, paying particular attention to the health, medical and education needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Foundation operates the Rural Health Satellite Network, which broadcasts educational television programs throughout rural and remote Australia. It is one of the largest dedicated networks of its kind in the world, reaching more than 90 per cent of rural doctors and other health professionals. The programs feature panel discussions from medical and health professionals who are leaders in their disciplines, and allow for input from the target audience on material presented.

Influenza: Are You Ready?

The Rural Health Education Foundation will be broadcasting “Influenza: Are You Ready?” on the 22^nd and 25^th March (8.00pm & 12.30pm respectively) across its satellite television network.

The program discusses a variety of flu related issues including updates to the NIP schedule for new influenza vaccines, vaccine safety and best practice & procedures.

For more information on this event, you can visit their website at: http://www.rhef.com.au/programs/program-1/?program id=560

Last year there was a large increase in the number of febrile seizures in young children following influenza vaccination. This was noted particularly in Western Australia, which was conducting a study of the benefits of a free influenza vaccination program for children aged 6months to 4 years.

On August 10, 2010, the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that in its view the world is no longer in phase 6 of influenza pandemic alert¹.

On 1 December 2010, Australia moved from the PROTECT phase to the ALERT phase of its pandemic plan.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) addresses Council of Europe.

A public parliamentary hearing concerning H1N1 pandemic was held on the fringe of the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the recommended viruses for the northern hemisphere 2011-2012 influenza season.

The Influenza Specialist Group is delighted that one of its founding members, Professor William (Bill) Rawlinson, became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on Australia Day 2011. The award was given for his service to the medical sciences as a clinician, educator and researcher in the disciplines of virology and pathology.

Professor Rawlinson is a Director of the Influenza Specialist Group, with a keen interest in influenza. He is also a molecular virologist with particular scientific expertise in herpes viruses (CMV), hepatitis viruses (HCV), gastroenteritis agents (NLV), and endogenous retroviruses. His contributions to science includes new testing algorithms for common viral illnesses, sequencing and analysis of the murine CMV genome, unique studies of congenital CMV and the placenta, unique data on endogenous viruses and cancer, and he continues to directly supervise projects within these areas. Professor Rawlinson has received awards in science (The Fenner Prize in Microbiology, The Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Scholarship in Medicine, Glaxo award for advanced research in infectious diseases, Fellowship of the Australian Society for Microbiology, The Eric de Bunsen award King's College), and is on advisory boards to the NSW and Commonwealth Departments of Health.

His fellow ISG members and Directors congratulate him on achieving this well-deserved recognition.

The Influenza Specialist Group is delighted to announce that one of its founding members, Dr Rod Pearce, became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on this year's Australia Day. He received the award for service to medicine as a general practitioner, through contributions to national medical organisations, and to education.

Dr Pearce is a Director of the Influenza Specialist Group, and a General Practitioner (based in Adelaide). He is Chair of the Adelaide Central-Eastern Division of General Practice, and Director of the Central Adelaide and Hills Medicare Local.

He is a member of ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization), and a member of the Federal Health Advisory Committee, National Primary Health Care Strategy, Department of Health and Ageing, since 2008.

He has been a director of the Australian General Practice Network, Chair of the Council of General Practice, Australian Medical Association, and has been a member of the Public Health Committee since 1978. He is currently a Director of the Australian General Practice Accreditation/Quality in Practice, and a Fellow of the Australian Medical Association.

His fellow ISG members and Directors congratulate him on achieving this well-deserved recognition.