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Swine flu
Last update: Friday 1 May 2009
Note
WHO says: "30 April 2009 -- From today, WHO will refer to the new influenza virus as influenza A(H1N1)."
The pork industry and others are not happy with the term swine flu, others refer to it as Mexican flu or Mexico flu but plenty in the media - including the ABC - say they will continue to use the term swine flu.
The World Health Organization is coordinating the global response to the outbreak of swine flu - known as swine influenza A (H1N1) - that emerged in April 2009.
The virus has already claimed lives in Mexico, where the outbreak was first reported, with confirmed cases of infection emerging in other countries.
WHO has latest updates and background information available at Swine influenza.
Latest WHO updates are also available through the Ultimate Guide's Breaking News alerts.
Australia
Did you know?
More people died in the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918 than were killed in World War I (1914-1918). The Australian Government says the flu was thought to have killed about 50-million people, including 10,000 Australians. Most of the casualties were healthy adults, aged 15 to 35.
Source: History of pandemics
The Australian Government's response to the situation is through the Department of Health and Ageing's Swine Influenza Outbreaks.
The department also has more general information on Preparing for pandemic influenza.
Australia's states and territories have set up the following:
- Australian Capital Territory - The Department of Health has alerts on Swine Influenza.
- New South Wales - The Department of Health's Human swine influenza investigation and Pandemic Preparedness site.
- Northern Territory - The Department of Health and Families has latest news, and there is the Centre for Disease Control .
- Queensland - Swine flu response and Pandemic Planning site.
- South Australia - The Department of Health has updates and Pandemic Influenza planning.
- Tasmania - The Tasmanian Government's Planning for an Influenza Pandemic.
- Victoria - Swine Influenza - Influenza A (H1N1) virus and the state's health management plan for pandemic influenza.
- Western Australia - Swine flu and Pandemic influenza plans.
Other useful links
The Australian Medical Association has Swine Influenza - information for doctors.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners - the peak body for GPs - has advice on swine flu and infection control available on its website.
Other countries
In the United States the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information on the US response at Swine Influenza (Flu).
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