At the time of writing (27.5.09) Australia has more than 50 confirmed cases of Swine Flu and according to the Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon, the numbers will continue to rise quickly.

According to Professor Anne Kelso, from the WHO collaborating centre for influenza, the concern is that the virus could mutate to a potentially more virulent (powerful) strain.

The Communicable Disease Network Australia; has stated that even patients that have not had exposure to a confirmed case of swine flu should be tested if they display:

• Acute febrile respiratory illness, regardless of travel history
• Fever >38C or good fever history
• And they should have one of the following symptoms: rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sore throat or cough.

As reported previously in our health alerts a vaccine for this Swine Flu is still months away, according to WHO ” it was taking longer than anticipated to prepare the seed stock needed to manufacture a vaccine for the H1N1 influenza virus”. Once the vaccine manufacturers have this ‘seed stock’ it takes them 4-6 months to develop a vaccine.

www.australiandoctor.com.au