Authorities wait, watch on swine flu

Alex de Vos
Geelong authorities are taking a wait-and-see approach to an international outbreak of potentially deadly swine flu.
Barwon Health said it would “closely” monitor the outbreak, while Avalon Airport was ready to activate emergency plans to help prevent the spread of the disease.
Both said they would hold back on activating pandemic procedures until either a swine flu diagnosis in the region or an order from government to take action.
Spokesperson Kate Nelson said Barwon Health had a special unit “equipped to deal with infectious diseases”.
Ms Nelson said medical authorities were yet to diagnose a case of swine flu in Australia but she advised anyone with flu-like symptoms to contact their doctor.
“People with concerns should contact their local GP and, if they meet the criteria, ring ahead to ensure appropriate infection-control procedures are implemented to minimise the risk of infection to other individuals,” Ms Nelson said.
“Barwon Health strongly encourages individuals to receive their yearly influenza vaccination to aid in protection from some forms of influenza.”
Avalon Airport general manager Justin Giddings said management had emergency plans to deal with threats such as disease outbreaks.
But the airport was at less risk of processing passengers infected with swine flu because it only handled domestic flights, he said.
Media reports this week said the flu, which originated in pigs but jumped to humans, had spread to countries around the world after it first appeared in Mexico.
The reports said seven countries had confirmed cases.
The World Health Organisation rejected claims the death toll was 150. The organisation said authorities had confirmed swine flu as responsible for only seven deaths, all in Mexico.