title: Commonwealth pandemic preparedness plans.
abstract: This paper describes the work being done by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to prepare for a possible influenza pandemic. It provides an overview of Australian Government initiatives and explains both the purpose and the content of the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza. It summarises efforts to improve regional detection and response capabilities and it explains the role of simulation exercises in Australian pandemic planning.
authors.affiliation: Chief Medical Officer, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horvath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001717:Birds; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011635:Public Health Administration; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology