Preparing for the influenza pandemic: the government response

Abstract

In February 2003, a small group of scientists and clinicians met in Sydney to map out how Australia could best respond if a case of smallpox occurred in Australia. The day was interrupted by a teleconference on the two deaths in Hong Kong of family members who had been in South China. One was confirmed to have avian influenza, H5N1, the same virus which had caused 18 cases and six deaths in Hong Kong in 1997.