(Last reviewed: 10/04/2007)
This webpage advises Australia's tourism industry of the most recent developments in avian influenza. Updates are fortnightly or when other significant developments occur. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there have been 25 laboratory confirmed human cases of avian influenza virus A/H5N1 leading to 12 deaths since the beginning of 2007 (last WHO update 2 April 2007). Human cases have been confirmed in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Lao PDR, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam since 1 January 2005. Outbreaks of the avian influenza virus in birds have been reported across Asia, Europe and North and Central Africa. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) advises that: - the current situation does not warrant any form of restriction or other discouragement to travel to any destination, whether for holiday or business,
- the tourism industry must not underestimate the threat; and,
- the tourism industry needs to keep preparing for the worst should it occur.
This news release and other useful information is available from the UNWTO website, http://www.unwto.org The UNWTO has launched an emergency response portal, www.sos.travel that provides a central site for tourism stakeholders to track events and help in response activities. Information on avian influenza from institutional and media organisations is also included on this new site. To date there has been no detection of the avian influenza virus A/H5N1 in Australia and there has been no evidence of efficient human to human spread anywhere in the world. WHO Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 2005 - 2007 (last update 2 April 2007) | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | cases | deaths | cases | deaths | cases | deaths | Azerbaijan | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Cambodia | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | China | 8 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 1 | Djibouti | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Egypt | 0 | 0 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 3 | Indonesia | 20 | 12 | 55 | 46 | 6 | 5 | Iraq | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | | Lao PDR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | Nigeria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Thailand | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Turkey | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Vietnam | 61 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Total | 98 | 42 | 115 | 80 | 25 | 12 |
Australian Government Response- The Australian Government has committed a total of $621 million since 2003 for a possible influenza pandemic. This includes $414 million on the domestic health response, $152 million to help our regional neighbours and $55 million to strengthen Australia’s frontline defences against highly pathogenic avian influenza.
- The Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI) was released on 30 May 2006 and outlines what the Australian Government is doing and what the health sector, key stakeholder groups, organisations, the community and individuals can do to prepare for a pandemic. It builds on the original Australian Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AMPPI) which was released in June 2005, drawing on the latest expert epidemiological advice and on extensive consultations with the health sector, key industry sectors and the community.
- Full details of the Australian Government response to managing the risk from avian influenza can be found at the Department of Health and Ageing website.
National Action Plan for Human Influenza PandemicThe National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments at its meeting in July 2006. The plan outlines how Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments will work together to protect Australia against the threat of an influenza pandemic and support the Australian community should one occur.
Business Continuity PlanningThe Australian Government is running free business planning workshops to assist small business be better prepared for, and able to recover from, a crisis. Workshops are being held around Australia from March to May 2007. To register interest in these workshops, visit www.industry.gov.au/workshops. - The Australian Government has released a business continuity guide and small business kit to provide practical information and planning tools to assist businesses start their preparations for a potential human influenza pandemic.
The Guide, Being Prepared for a Human Influenza Pandemic – A Business Continuity Guide for Australian Businesses, is a comprehensive and practical information and planning tool to assist businesses prepare for a potential pandemic. The Kit, A Kit for Small Businesses, provides tools and information for use by small businesses, including those in the tourism sector. These resources were prepared by the Australian Government in consultation with industry associations. Both products can be downloaded from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources website at www.industry.gov.au/pandemicbusinesscontinuity.
Exercise Cumpston- Exercise Cumpston ’06 finished on 19 October 2006 with the completion of the operational phase. The aim of the Exercise was to test the capacity and capability of the Australian health response to a pandemic in accordance with the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI) and to test the national governance arrangements as outlined in the National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic. A comprehensive evaluation report is being prepared to identify opportunities to enhance pandemic preparations.
DITR participated in Exercise Cumpston to test proposed revisions to the National Tourism Incident Response Plan (NTIRP) and to enhance the preparedness of the NTIRP's Tourism Communicators' Network and DITR support staff to respond to a pandemic.
Industry ConsultationsDITR and the National Tourism Alliance convened consultations with leading tourism industry associations and State/Territory Tourism Organisation CEOs in Sydney on 17 November 2005. DITR and the NTA issued a Joint Communique, outlining the key issues discussed at the consultations. The Australian Government is now consulting directly with accommodation industry associations as it recognises the important role the sector can play in the event of an influenza pandemic in Australia and the vulnerability of the sector. DITR and the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) are seeking to better understand the concerns of the accommodation industry, both in terms of the industry's potential role during a pandemic and also what planning measures industry needs to take for it to continue operating during a pandemic. It is hoped that this work will form the basis for on-the-ground action between accommodation providers and government. Consultation with accommodation industry associations is stage one of a three stage project. DITR and DoHA will then seek to work with state health and tourism organisations to identify areas of concern. Stage three will see matters raised by all stakeholders forming the basis of information sessions on pandemic planning and preparedness conducted in locations around Australian in March and April 2007.
National Tourism Incident Response Plan (NTIRP)- Following consultations with state and territory tourism organisations in October 2005, DITR elevated the NTIRP's activation level from blue (dormant) to green (watching brief status).
- DITR continues to monitor and regularly review the avian influenza situation, with the capacity for rapid escalation, if required.
- To increase preparedness, DITR co-ordinated a simulated activation of the NTIRP on 8-9 March 2006 called Exercise Polo. The communication protocols under the NTIRP were activated in response to a fictional scenario based on a suspected human avian influenza case in a major regional tourism destination. Exercise Polo involved DITR, state and territory tourism organisations, industry representatives and Ministerial staff.
Useful Avian Influenza Links Australian Government Links | | Department of Health and Ageing | Extensive information for the general public, health
professionals and industry on avian influenza. |
smartraveller.com.au
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Department of Foreign Affairs travel bulletin.
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www.daff.gov.au
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Information from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry relating to animal and quarantine issues.
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www.outbreak.gov.au
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Information on State & Territory and Australian Government
responses at local, state and national levels to current
ongoing outbreaks of animal and plant pests and diseases.
| avianinfluenza.com.au |
Information for businesses and travellers provided
by Health Services Australia.
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Other Links
| | World Health Organization | Avian influenza site. Includes latest alerts
and details of international developments. | UNWTO Emergency Response Portal |
Central site for tourism stakeholders to track events
(including avian influenza developments) and help
in response activities.
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For more information please contact 02 6213 7543
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