2009 swine flu pandemic in Oceania
| Country | Cases | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory confirmed |
Estimated cases | Confirmed (Suspected)‡ | |
| Total | 19,912 | 110,355 | 64 [1] |
| Australia | 17,061[2] | 27,000 | 193[2] |
| New Zealand | 3,067[3] | 20,000 | 15 [3] |
| Vanuatu | 10[1] | 15 | 1 |
| Tonga | 9 [4] | 20 | 1[4] |
| Guam### | 7[1] | 10 | 1 |
| Fiji | 97[5] | 200 | 0 |
| New Caledonia | 16 | 20 | 0 |
| French Polynesia# | 11[1] | 15 | 0 |
| Marshall Islands | 4[6] | 15 | 0 |
| Papua New Guinea | 1[1] | 5 | 0 |
| Federated States of Micronesia | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Samoa | 9[1] | 15 | 0 |
| Cook Islands## | 8[1] | 10 | 0 |
| Palau | 8[1] | 10 | 0 |
| Solomon Islands | 5[7] | 10 | 0 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Notes:
#dependency of France ##dependency of New Zealand ###dependency of the United States | |||
| Summary: Number of countries in the Oceania with confirmed cases: 7 And only one dependency with confirmed cases (30 June 2009) | |||
The 2009 flu pandemic in Oceania, part of an epidemic in 2009 of a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 causing what has been commonly called swine flu, has (as of 27 June 2009) afflicted at over 22,000 people in Oceania, with 56 confirmed deaths. Almost all of the cases in Oceania have been in Australia, where the majority of cases have resulted from internal community spread of the virus. In addition, the government of New Zealand, where most of the remainder of cases in Oceania have occurred, is on high alert for any people travelling into the country with flu-like symptoms.
 Confirmed deaths Confirmed cases Suspect cases No cases |
 Community Outbreaks |
 50 000+ confirmed cases 5 000+ confirmed cases 500+ confirmed cases 50+ confirmed cases 5+ confirmed cases 1+ confirmed cases |
 No deaths 1+ deaths 5+ deaths 10+ deaths 50+ deaths 100+ deaths 500+ deaths 1000+ deaths 5000+ deaths |
Australia
 50 000+ confirmed cases 5 000+ confirmed cases 500+ confirmed cases 50+ confirmed cases 5+ confirmed cases 1+ confirmed cases |
 No deaths 1+ deaths 5+ deaths 20+ deaths 100+ deaths 500+ deaths |
 Confirmed cases Deaths Suspect cases No cases |
As of July 9, 7,290 cases confirmed in Australia with 20 confirmed deaths.[8][9] The alert level has been lifted from "delay" to "contain", giving authorities in all states the option to close schools if students are at risk.[10]
Australia has a stockpile of 8.7 million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza.[11] Airlines have been required to report passengers from the Americas with influenza symptoms, and nurses have been deployed at international airports.[11]
On May 9, the first confirmed case in Australia was reported.[12]
On May 20, four additional cases were reported, one in New South Wales and three in Victoria.[13][14]
On May 21, an additional case was reported in Victoria. Victorian health authorities close Clifton Hill Primary School for two days (initially) after three brothers return to the school from a trip to Disneyland and are confirmed to have H1N1.[15]
On May 22, cases were reported in South Australia and Victoria, including the first reported cases where the virus was contracted in Australia.[16]
On May 25, the first confirmed case in Western Australia was reported.
On May 26, 3 additional cases were reported in Sydney. The newly confirmed cases involved two children who arrived in Sydney on the cruise ship named Pacific Dawn and another child who had recently returned from a trip to the United States. NSW Health issued a directive to the 2000 passengers who arrived in Sydney on the Pacific Dawn requiring that they stay at home for 7 days.
On 19 June the first confirmed death from swine flu in Australia was a 26-year-old Aboriginal man from Kiwirrkurra Community in the Western Desert of Western Australia who died in Royal Adelaide Hospital.[17][18]
Fiji
Fiji on Wednesday moved to high alert against the swine flu virus, with the authorities admitting the Pacific island nation was not immune to the rapidly spreading global threat.[19]
On Thursday April 30, 2009, a traveller suspected of being infected by the swine flu virus is under close surveillance at Lautoka Hospital, said the Health Ministry.[20] Hours later, the Health Ministry said there were two suspected cases. 2 cases of H1N1 confirmed in Fiji.[21]
As of June 30, 2009 there are 10 confirmed cases of swine Flu in Fiji.
On 10 July 2009, a total of 52 cases of swine flu were confirmed in the nation.
French Polynesia
French Polynesia has reported no cases of swine flu so far.[22] Officials installed a thermal imaging camera on April 27, 2009, at Faa'a International Airport in Tahiti to screen all arriving international passengers.[22] French Polynesia has 48,000 Tamiflu anti-viral treatments available in case of an outbreak,[22] and more can be flown into Tahiti within twenty-four hours.[22] On June 10, 2009, French Polynesia reported its first confirmed case in the islands.[23]
Indonesia
Marshall Islands
As of July 20, there were 4 confirmed cases in the Marshall Islands.[6]
New Caledonia
On June 2, 2009 the authorities in New Caledonia refused to allow the cruise-ship from Australia, the Dawn Princess to dock because five patients on board had flu-like symptoms.[24]
New Zealand
The impact in New Zealand has been unprecedented, with school closures across the country. There have been only isolated instances of community transmission.[25]
On Saturday 25 April 2009 ten students from Rangitoto College, a secondary school in North Shore City, Auckland, exhibited influenza symptoms on returning from a three-week language trip to Mexico. All 22 students and three accompanying teachers from the trip and those in close contact with them were placed in voluntary home isolation and treated with oseltamivir. The ten students tested positive for an influenza A virus,[26][27] with three of them later testing positive for swine flu.[28] The symptoms were reportedly mild and all affected individuals have since recovered.[29]
New Zealand has had a well-developed Influenza Pandemic action plan since 2006.[30] Following this plan New Zealand immediately upgraded its influenza pandemic alert status to code yellow.[31] The national stockpile of 1.4 million doses of oseltamivir was released to regional health authorities. The initial response as specified in the Pandemic Action Plan is a policy of border control and cluster control via voluntary quarantine and treatment of contacts with oseltamivir. As of May 24, this policy appears to have been successful in preventing the Mexican Flu from spreading within New Zealand.
New Zealand had about 48,000 influenza cases in the 2008 flu season – 42% of which were type A – and approximately 100 deaths a year directly attributed to influenza viruses.[32]
As of July 21, there were 2,255 confirmed cases and 10 deaths. The Ministry Of Health changed plan from 'Containment' to 'Care in the Community'.[33]
Palau
Palau has issued a health alert for swine flu.
Health Minister Dr. Stevenson Kuartei told reporters that although there is no reported case in Palau, a Task Force has been convened to increase screening of passengers entering the country.[34]
On July 5, Palau confirmed its first case.
Papua New Guinea
On June 15, a young Port Moresby adult has contracted the disease.
Dr Mathias Sapuri said they are doing all they can to try to limit the spread of the virus.
The process of the step up of clinical surveillance in the country has been picked up by most health facilities throughout the country now. We are taking swab tests and are making clinical judgments on swine flu, to get on to the Tamiflu treatment.
Mathias Sapuri said health staff are also visiting the provinces to bring medication and test kits to them, and to help with their preparedness.[35]
As of July 2, 2009, only one case is confirmed in the country.
Samoa
On June 15, Health Authorities confirmed the first case of flu. An Australian young student tested positive.[36]
Solomon Islands
A multi-sectoral task force has been activated by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health to deal with the swine influenza virus.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Service Lester Ross said a task force is managing the Solomon Island Ministry of health's response to recent threat of swine flu epidemic.[37]
On June 15, Health Authorities confirmed the first case of flu.[38]
Tokelau
Most supplies and food shipments to Tokelau are sent by ferry from the neighboring country of Samoa. The Samoa Health Ministry had cancelled all travel to Tokelau until further notice as a precaution against the introduction of swine flu to the Tokelauan population.[39] The Operations Manager for the Tokelau Office in Apia, Samoa, Makalio Ioane, confirmed that some ferry travel would still be allowed to Tokelau, but the ship's crew would not be allowed to leave the boat or dock in Tokelau.[39] The boat will be off loaded without any physical contact with the Tokelauan population.[39] No cases of swine flu have been reported on either Tokelau or Samoa, so the cessation of travel to Tokelau is considered a precaution.[39]
Tonga
Tonga has set up an Emergency Taskforce and is performing screen checks at its International Airport for passengers experiencing influenza symptoms, most importantly from flights originating from Los Angeles. In early July Tonga confirmed its first case of Swine flu and on July 21 its first death.[40]
Nauru
One suspected case of swine flu has been identified in Nauru. Travelers entering Nauru are now screened for influenza symptoms, most importantly from flights originating from North America.
Vanuatu
Travelers entering the country via Santo-Pekoa International Airport and Bauerfield International Airport are now being screened using body heat detection before being allowed to exit the airport's gates. 1st case confirm in Vanuatu.
Timeline
| 2009 | A(H1N1) Outbreak and Pandemic Milestones in Oceania |
|---|---|
| 28 April |  First case confirmed in New Zealand. |
| 9 May | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} First case confirmed in Australia. |
| 28 May | Community outbreaks confirmed in Australia. |
| 10 June |  First case confirmed in French Polynesia. |
| 15 June |  First confirmed case in Solomon Islands. |
| 16 June |  First confirmed case in Samoa. |
| 18 June |  First confirmed case in Papua New Guinea. |
| 19 June | First confirmed death in Australia. |
| 21 June |  First case confirmed in Fiji. |
| 24 June |  First case confirmed in Vanuatu. |
| 27 June | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} First case confirmed in New Caledonia. |
| 4 July | First confirmed death in New Zealand. |
| 5 July |  First case confirmed in Palau. |
| 7 July |  First case confirmed in Cook Islands. |
| 11 July | Community outbreaks confirmed in New Zealand. |
| 14 July |  First case confirmed in Marshall Islands. |
| 15 July |  First case confirmed in Tonga. |
| 20 July |  First death confirmed in Guam. |
| 21 July |  First case confirmed in Federated States of Micronesia. |
 First case confirmed in Northern Mariana Islands. | |
| 22 July | First death confirmed in Tonga. |
| 23 July |  First case confirmed in American Samoa. |
| 26 July | Community outbreaks confirmed in Fiji. |
| 31 July |  First case confirmed in Nauru. |
| 6 August |  First case confirmed in Kiribati. |
| 7 August | First death confirmed in Samoa. |
| 12 August |  First case confirmed in Wallis and Futuna. |
| 18 August | First death confirmed in Cook Islands. |
| 22 August | First death confirmed in New Caledonia. |
| 24 August | First death confirmed in French Polynesia. |
| 3 September | First death confirmed in Marshall Islands. |
| 11 September | First case of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance found in Australia. |
| 15 September | First death confirmed in Solomon Islands. |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Influenza A(H1N1) - update 55". World Health Organization. 2009-06-11. Archived from the original on July 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- 1 2 "Department of Health | the website you tried to access has been decommissioned" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
- 1 2 "Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 Swine Flu - Update 138". New Zealand Ministry of Health. 18 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
- 1 2 http://69.64.79.247/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1907&Itemid=57%5B%5D
- ↑ "Fiji's Influenza A/H1N1 confirmed cases rise to 11". Xinhua. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- 1 2 "Marshall Islands confirms its first swine flu cases". Radio New Zealand International. 2009-07-14. Archived from the original on 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ↑ "Solomon Islands confirm first case of swine flu". Australia Network News. 2009-06-15. Archived from the original on 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ↑ "National tally of people being tested for Swine Influenza As at 12pm, 9 July 2009" (PDF). Department of Health and Ageing. 2009-07-09. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
- ↑ "Australia Says Confirmed Swine Flu Cases Rise to 502 (Update2)". Bloomberg L.P. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
- ↑ "Rudd defends swine flu threat upgrade". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-05-23. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
- 1 2 "70 Australians tested for swine flu". Melbourne: AAP. 2009-04-29. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ↑ "First confirmed case of swine flu in Australia". News.com.au. 2009-05-09. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- ↑ Dart, Jonathan (2009-05-20). "Sydney has latest cases of swine flu in Australia". smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
- ↑ Cooper, Mex; Miller, Nick (2009-05-20). "Swine flu: three brothers test positive". Melbourne: theage.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
- ↑ "Swine flu outbreak closes school". smh.com.au. 2009-05-21. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ↑ "Melbourne boy tests positive to swine flu". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-05-22. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
- ↑ Pepper, Daile (19 June 2009). "WA man dies from swine flu". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 21 June 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
- ↑ "First Suspected Death from H1N1 Influenza 09 infection". Department of Health and Ageing. 2009-06-19. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
- ↑ "Fiji on high alert against swine flu virus". Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ↑ "Fiji records first probable swine flu case". Archived from the original on 2009-05-02. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ↑ "2 suspected cases of Swine Flu travelled to Fiji". Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- 1 2 3 4 "No swine flu cases in French Polynesia". Agence Tahitienne de Presse. 2009-04-28. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
- ↑ "BULLETIN EPIDEMIOLOGIQUE GRIPPE A(H1N1)". Institut de veille sanitaire. 2009-06-10. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ Brisbane Times, June 4, 2009
- ↑ "Media Release 16 June 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - Update Seventy-seven". New Zealand Ministry of Health. 2009-06-16. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
- ↑ "Students likely to have swine flu". TV3 (3 News). 2009-04-06. Archived from the original on 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
- ↑ "NZ students in swine flu scare". The New Zealand Herald. April 26, 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
- ↑ "RESULTS OF H1N1 (Swine flu) testing". Moh.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ↑ "Swine flu: Airline passengers held in transit over flu concerns". NZ Herald. New Zealand Herald. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
- ↑ "New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Action Plan - 2006". New Zealand Ministry of Health. September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ↑ "Daily News". New Zealand Doctor Online. 2009-04-27. Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ↑ Smith, Jacqueline; Associated Press (2009-04-29). "Big jump in suspected swine flu cases". National. Auckland: New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ↑ "Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - Update 110". Archived from the original on 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
- ↑ "Palau on health alert for swine flu". 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ↑ "Papua New Guinea and Fiji coping with first confirmed swine flu cases - From Radio New Zealand". Archived from the original on 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ↑ "Samoa confirms positive swine flu test for Australian student". 2009-06-15. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ↑ "Solomon Islands issues swine flu alert". 2009-04-29. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ↑ "'Solomon Islands may lack capacity to deal with H1N1 outbreak' says official". 2009-06-15. Archived from the original on 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- 1 2 3 4 "Samoa Health Ministry cancels travel to Tokelau". Radio New Zealand International. 2009-05-11. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ↑ "Tonga Broadcasting - Tonga Reports It's [sic] First Death From Swine Flu". 21 July 2009. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-22.