Pandemic influenza phases
The influenza virus is a common virus that has been in existence for a long time. Each flu season, influenza causes many admissions to hospital and deaths, particularly in the very young and the old.
An influenza pandemic occurs when:
- a new sub-type of the flu virus emerges in humans to which people have no or little immunity
- the virus spreads easily and rapidly between humans (infectiousness).
The combination of low immunity in the population and high infectiousness means that many people will be infected. This means that there will be a correspondingly high number of hospital admissions and deaths.
On this page:
Phases
The World Health Organization has 6 global phases to describe the status of a worldwide pandemic. Australia has 7 phases to guide the Australian response to a pandemic.
It is important to note that the pandemic might not develop in a predictable way. It might move through phases quickly or skip phases altogether.
| Australian Phase | Description | Key Government Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Alert |
|
To be alert to the pandemic risk and prepare for a pandemic |
| Delay |
|
Delay the virus arriving in Australia |
| Contain |
|
Limit the spread of the virus |
| Protect |
|
To identify the people in whom disease may be severe and provide medical care and interventions to reduce suffering |
| Sustain |
|
Sustain the response while waiting for a pandemic vaccine to be developed |
| Control |
|
Control the pandemic with a vaccine |
| Recover |
|
Return to normal while remaining vigilant |
More information about Queensland Government strategies to respond to a pandemic threat is available in the Queensland Pandemic Influenza Plan 2009.
What should I do?
There are steps you can take now to protect yourself and your family from catching any type of flu.
Find out how to protect yourself.
What should my business do?
The Queensland Government encourages all businesses and non-government organisations to be prepared for a pandemic.
Planning ahead could minimise the impact of a pandemic on the organisation, help protect staff and contribute to national recovery.
