How would Australia cope with a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry?
Australia is well prepared to deal with a case of avian influenza in poultry. There have been five incidents in poultry in Australia, the last being in 1997. Each incident was controlled and infected poultry eradicated before the disease spread. No person became sick from the avian influenza virus in any of the incidents. Good surveillance, early detection, and rapid, effective stamping out have characterised every incident so far; planning, preparedness and response procedures continue to be refined and improved. Australia’s eradication plans include personal protection and treatment measures to protect people working on infected properties and other people at risk of infection with the virus. A national training exercise was carried out in November/December 2005 to better prepare Australia to respond to a case of avian influenza. The exercise (Exercise Eleusis) tested whole of government arrangements, including communication arrangements between Primary industries and Health departme
