Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

A H M P P I

April 2014

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Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic InfluenzaOnline ISBN: 978-1-74186-151-8

Publications approval number: 10776

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AcknowledgementsEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Guide to public health measures to reduce the impact of influenza pandemics

in Europe: The ECDC Menu 2009. Stockholm, 2009, http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/publications/0906_ter_public_health_

measures_for_influenza_pandemics.pdf

The World Health Organization (WHO). Outbreak Communication, Best practices for communicating with the public during an outbreak.

Report of the WHO Expert Consultation on Outbreak Communications held in Singapore, 21-23 September 2004. http://www.who.int/csr/

resources/publications/WHO_CDS_2005_32web.pdf

National collaboration with state and territories and the health sector in development of the plan.

http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/publications/0906_ter_public_health_measures_for_influenza_pandemics.pdf%20http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/publications/0906_ter_public_health_measures_for_influenza_pandemics.pdf%20http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/WHO_CDS_2005_32web.pdf%0Dhttp://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/WHO_CDS_2005_32web.pdf%0D

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Ministerial foreword for the AHMPPIThe Australian Government is committed to keeping Australia secure against potential threats. The Government continues to fund initiatives such as the National Medical Stockpile, the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Influenza Research and Reference, and contracts for supply of pandemic vaccine to protect Australians.

However, it is inevitable that the world will face another influenza pandemic. While there is no certainty about where or when the next one will occur, Australia must be prepared. An influenza pandemic represents a significant risk to Australia. It has the potential to cause high levels of disease and death and disrupt our community socially and economically.

This plan the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI) outlines Australias strategy to manage an influenza pandemic and minimise its impact on the health of Australians and our health system. The new and improved AHMPPI takes a significantly different approach

to the previous plan and outlines the measures that the health sector as a whole would consider taking in response to an influenza pandemic. Continuous and extensive consultation with states and territories and other relevant stakeholders has enabled feedback to shape the development of the document.

In 2009, the earlier revision of the AHMPPI was used to guide Australias response to the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. This latest version of the AHMPPI draws on lessons learned in 2009 and developments in the approach to pandemic response within the international community.

Key aspects of the new approach include:

wherever possible, using existing systems and governance mechanisms, leveraging seasonal influenza response mechanisms to respond to a pandemic;

applying a flexible approach, which can be scaled and varied to meet the needs at the time;

making decisions based on available evidence;

linking with emergency response arrangements;

emphasising communication activities as a key tool in managing the response; and

providing detailed guidance on collecting national surveillance data.

The AHMPPI will continue to be updated as new clinical evidence is developed. While there has been significant work in Australia to prepare for an influenza pandemic, we cannot afford to be complacent. This plan provides the guidance and a framework for leadership so we can make sure we are as prepared as possible to deal with an influenza pandemic.

The Hon Peter Dutton MP Minister for Health

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ContentsHow to use this document ..................................................................................................................................6PART 1 .................................................................................................................................................................8

Overview of the National Approach ...............................................................................................................81 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................82 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................13

2.1 Aims of a national pandemic response ..........................................................................................132.2 Key aspects of this plan .................................................................................................................142.3 Comprehensive approach ..............................................................................................................142.4 Context of pandemic planning .......................................................................................................162.5 Legal framework ............................................................................................................................162.6 Ethical framework ..........................................................................................................................182.7 Proportionate response..................................................................................................................182.8 Planning assumptions ....................................................................................................................232.9 Participating parties .......................................................................................................................232.10 Review and amendment ..............................................................................................................24

3 Escalation .................................................................................................................................................253.1 Seasonal Influenza Arrangements .................................................................................................253.2 Escalation from existing arrangements ..........................................................................................263.3 Escalation across stages ..............................................................................................................273.4 Activation of other plans ................................................................................................................283.5 Enhanced arrangements ................................................................................................................28

4 Governance ...............................................................................................................................................294.1 Roles and responsibilities ..............................................................................................................294.2 Decision making and consultation ................................................................................................34

5 Implementation .........................................................................................................................................425.1 Prevention Activities .......................................................................................................................435.2 Preparedness Activities ..................................................................................................................435.3 Response Activities ........................................................................................................................445.4 Recovery Activities .........................................................................................................................515.5 Resilience .......................................................................................................................................515.6 Emergence of the novel virus first in Australia ...............................................................................525.7 Application to seasonal influenza ..................................................................................................53

6 Communications .......................................................................................................................................546.