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ACT Bird Flu information

Photo of chicken held in domestic captivity

This web page has been established to keep the ACT public informed about local issues related to Bird Flu (Avian Influenza). The page also links you to other relevant information and will be updated on a regular basis.

ACT Health is responsible for the coordination of planning and our response to any Influenza Pandemic. This includes managing cases of Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) if they occur in our region.

In this section:

    Current national response to disease outbreaks

    About Bird Flu (Avian Influenza)

    This section gives you information about Bird Flu, including which countries have been affected by outbreaks of Bird Flu in birds and amongst humans. See the specific sections below that discuss bird / animal health and human health issues.

    Bird / animal health

    Bird / animal health information

    Website for outbreaks in birds

    Human health

    Fact sheet

    Frequently asked questions

    Countries with human cases

    Environmental health regulations for domestic poultry

    Download: Environmental health regulations for domestic poultry (PDF File - 162k)

    ACT planning processes

    ACT Health is responsible for the coordination of planning and our local response to any Influenza Pandemic. This includes managing cases of Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) if they occur in our region (please see the fact sheets above for more information on Bird Flu). The ACT planning process involves coordinating a number of agencies, including health, non-health, government and non-government organisations.

    The ACT Influenza Pandemic Action Committee (ACTIPAC), consisting of representatives from these agencies, has been formed to plan and respond to an Influenza Pandemic. The Chief Health Officer chairs ACTIPAC and sends e-mail updates to representatives as the situation demands. ACTIPAC currently consists of the following agencies and additional agencies are invited to join as the need arises.

    Agencies involved include ACT Health, including hospitals, labs, Health Protection Service, Community Health, pharmaceutical services and nursing services; ACT Division of General Practice; Emergency Services Authority; Environment ACT, including veterinary services; ACT Policing; Chief Ministers Department; Department of Education and Training; Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services; Community Recovery Sub-committee; Defence (ACT); Australian Medical Association (ACT Branch); Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Office of Chief of Protocol); ACT Planning and Land Authority; and ActewAGL.

    Download: ACT Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (PDF File - 459k)

    Protecting yourself and others against respiratory illness

    • HANDWASHING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEASURES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTION
    • Anyone with respiratory-type illnesses should be careful with secretions from the nose and mouth.
    • Cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Use a tissue and dispose carefully in the waste once used.
    • Always wash hands after having any contact with respiratory secretions.
    • Be careful with respiratory secretions when around other people (eg while coughing and sneezing). It may be best to avoid contact with individuals at risk (small children or those with underlying or chronic illnesses such as immune-suppression or lung disease) until respiratory symptoms have resolved.
    • Avoid contact with secretions of people who have respiratory illnesses.
    • Ask people to use a tissue and to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.

    Travel advice

    Returning from travel

    • Have you recently arrived or returned from overseas? Do you have a fever, a bad cough, difficulties breathing or do you otherwise feel unwell? Please see a doctor about your symptoms. When seeing your doctor, immediately tell them about your symptoms and that you have just been overseas.
    • On return from areas of risk, call a doctor or contact healthdirect on 1800 022 222 regarding any flu-like symptoms.

    Intending to travel

    Who do I call for more information?

    Human health issues

    • Call healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222 for health information, advice, referral or assessment, 24 hours a day.
    • Call Communicable Disease Control on (02) 6205 2155 during business hours.

    Bird animal related issues

    • Visit the Environment ACT website or call 13 2281.
    • Call the national exotic animal disease watch hotline for reporting suspicious events on 1800 675 888.

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