Credit: AFP
MELBOURNE: Hard-hit Australia has become a global case study for swine flu, with Europe and the United States watching closely as it battles the disease in the southern hemisphere winter.
The outbreak began here in early May, as Australia was entering its annual flu season, speeding up infections so much that in a month Melbourne was the world's 'swine flu capital' with the highest number of cases per capita in the world.
Winter spread
More than 40 deaths and some 16,000 cases later, Australia's experience with A(H1N1) holds valuable lessons for northern countries contemplating the onset of autumn and winter.
"There's no doubt that the lessons learned from Australia will be useful for overseas," said William Rawlinson, epidemiologist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
"What's happening in Australia now and the evidence that the number of cases of swine flu has significantly increased as winter's become colder is exactly what we expect in the northern hemisphere during their winter.
"So certainly lots of people in the northern hemisphere, Europe and the United States, are very interested in what happens here," he said.
Australia's efforts against the virus have ranged from reminding people to wash their hands to closing schools and planning a mass immunisation program capable of covering the entire population.
Changing approach
Authorities have also been forced to fine-tune their response as the threat has evolved, concentrating efforts on the most vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and those with existing medical problems.
They have also issued warnings to the disadvantaged Aboriginal community and noted with alarm that the disease starting attacking rising numbers of young, otherwise fit, people.
"Australia has seen you do have to change your response and get that message out to the public and the health community," Rawlinson said. "The issues have to be very clear – otherwise, people get confused.
"As deaths rise and as critical care becomes more important you have to respond to that, and that's one thing we've done very well in Australia."
