Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza in NSW: an overview of the public health response
Paula J. Spokes A C , Michelle A. Cretikos A and John G. Ward A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Communicable Diseases Branch, NSW Department of Health
B AIDS/Infectious Diseases Branch, NSW Department of Health
C Corresponding author. Email: pspok@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
NSW Public Health Bulletin 21(2) 4-9 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB09035
Published: 8 April 2010
Abstract
In April 2009, a new influenza A virus, pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza, was identified in Mexico and the United States of America. The NSW response was co-ordinated by the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre through an incident control structure that included planning, operations and logistics teams with designated roles and responsibilities for the public health response. The emphasis of public health action changed as the pandemic moved through three response phases: DELAY, CONTAIN and PROTECT. This article describes the NSW public health response to the 2009 influenza pandemic from the perspective of the NSW Department of Health.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the work of the NSW Public Health Emergency Operations Centre staff and the public health network who contributed long hours and performed painstaking work to support the public health response to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. We also thank the staff of the NSW Department of Health, area health services and public health laboratories who contributed to the surveillance systems, influenza testing and data collection.
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