Govt creates new swine flu category

Australia has swung into a new pandemic "protect" phase, as the number of swine flu
cases soars past 2,000.
The new phase will focus antiviral drugs and medical attention on those deemed most
at risk, including pregnant women, the morbidly obese and those with respiratory
conditions such as asthma.
People who live with or have come into contact with swine flu patients will no
longer be quarantined.
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the states and territories would reopen
schools closed due to swine flu and students who had returned from areas affected by
the disease would be allowed to attend classes.
"Excluding well children from school if they're in an area of sustained community
transmission is now a less practical or useful measure," she told reporters in
Canberra.
"Children though who are unwell, like adults who are unwell, will be urged to stay
at home until they recover in order to protect their classmates."
Only people with moderate or severe symptoms, or those in vulnerable groups, will
have access to the national and state stockpiles of Tamiflu.
Doctors will not prescribe Tamiflu to otherwise healthy people who have mild cases
of the virus, nor will they order pathology tests for all potential cases.
People with mild symptoms will be asked to voluntarily quarantine themselves and
take over-the-counter medication for relief.
Chief medical officer Jim Bishop said it was fortunate that most people with swine
flu experienced mild illness.
"The fact is that everyone ... with mild illness will get over this very quickly and
with a short illness and that will happen whether antivirals are used or not," he
said.
Measures at the nation's borders will also be relaxed. Airlines will still be
required to report sick travellers on international flights but thermal scanners
will no longer be used.
Ms Roxon said that under the new phase, large public gatherings, including sporting
events, should proceed as normal.
"However, people who are vulnerable to serious complications from flu should
reconsider their attendance at such events, as contact with large numbers of people
can increase the risk that they will come into contact with the infection," she
said.
Modelling had shown that had the government not put any public health measures in
place to deal with swine flu, it is estimated 6,000 Australians would have died from
the virus and up to 80,000 would be hospitalised, Ms Roxon said.
Some 4.3 million people, or one fifth of the population, would be infected with the
influenza A(H1N1) virus, compared with a seasonal flu infection rate of five to 15
per cent.
There are 2,026 confirmed swine flu cases in Australia, 53 of which have been
hospitalised. Most people who have been hospitalised have had existing conditions or
complications.
There are 1,210 cases in Victoria, 313 in NSW, 169 in Queensland, 102 in Western
Australia, 92 in South Australia, 65 in the ACT, 40 in Tasmania and 35 in the
Northern Territory.
Nine people with swine flu are currently in hospital. Seven of the nine are in
Victoria and three remain in intensive care.
One person is in hospital in South Australia and one in the Northern Territory.
Ms Roxon said the states and territories should all have moved to the new pandemic
level by next Friday, but South Australia and Western Australia will progress to the
protect phase immediately.
About 100 doctors across the country will conduct testing for surveillance purposes
from next week. Results will be reported to the minister on a weekly basis.
Ms Roxon said she felt for the members of Australia's U21s lacrosse team - some of
whom live in her Victorian electorate - who are locked up in their South Korean
hotel rooms due to swine flu concerns.
But she said travellers must respect the laws and health requirements of other
countries.