The Travel Doctor
Traveller's medical & vaccination centre
Health Alerts
Travel Doctor TMVC provides the latest health and travel alerts, including updates from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
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Swine Flu Update
Monday, 27 April, 2009
International health authorities are responding to the emerging threat of swine flu, which has the potential to become a pandemic. Reports of spread to the US, Scotland, Canada, and New Zealand have been noted and Australian authorities are on alert. There apparently have been several deaths in Mexico, where media reports suggest that the virus may have been circulating for 2-3 weeks. Cases in the US and elsewhere appear to be milder, and all have recovered.
This is a new influenza A virus, deriving from swine strains, and the viruses isolated to date are sensitive to the anti-flu drugs, oseltamivir ( Tamiflu), and zanamivir (Relenza). The current human vaccines for seasonal influenza are unlikely to offer any protection.
Travellers who have been in Mexico within the last 10 days should consider having a medical check-up, and should certainly report any flu-like illness. Influenza is characterised by the rapid-onset of high fever, headache, muscle ache, tiredness and respiratory symptoms.
Travel Doctor-TMVC clinics have instituted their pandemic response, and Tamilflu is available in Travel Doctor-TMVC clinics
