PREMIER WELCOMES CREATION OF INTERNATIONAL FLU RESEARCH NETWORK
Published Friday, 22 September, 2006 at 01:55 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Premier Peter Beattie has welcomed today’s announcement from Griffith University to establish an International Rapid Response Network to tackle influenza outbreaks in the Asia Pacific region.
Mr Beattie said the collaboration between Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics and the Institute Pasteur Asian network would significantly boost Queensland’s preparedness for pandemic influenza.
“Today’s announcement will see Queensland scientists working directly with researchers in Asia to study the evolution, transmission and treatment of influenza in animals and birds and their potential to lead to a human pandemic strain,” he said.
“By working with scientists on the ground in bird flu hotspots – such as Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam – the rapid response team will be able to help identify new strains of influenza and fast track the development of new drugs to treat them.
“The better we understand influenza viruses , the better prepared we will be to fight it in the event of a human influenza pandemic in Queensland.”
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the International Rapid Response Network built on the Queensland Government’s pandemic flu preparations.
“We have a state-wide contingency plan in place in conjunction with other State and Commonwealth agencies,” Mr Robertson said.
“Next month Queensland will host the world’s largest pandemic influenza exercise to test Australia’s preparedness for any outbreak.
“Health and emergency services from around Australia will participate in the four-day event that will exercise border control, quarantine and hospital plans; as well as national and state level response arrangements.
“One of the operational phases will be based at Brisbane Airport to simulate an international arrival of people with suspected pandemic human influenza.”
Mr Robertson said other State Government initiatives included:
• The purchase of two new molecular virology extraction machines worth $170,000 each to increase the surge capacity of the Queensland Health Scientific Services Laboratory to conduct rapid virus testing.
• An enhanced train the trainer program has been provided to 450 health care workers on infection control and pandemic influenza.
22 September 2006
MEDIA CONTACT: Premiers Office: 07 3224 4500 or Health Ministers Office: 07 3225 2680
Mr Beattie said the collaboration between Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics and the Institute Pasteur Asian network would significantly boost Queensland’s preparedness for pandemic influenza.
“Today’s announcement will see Queensland scientists working directly with researchers in Asia to study the evolution, transmission and treatment of influenza in animals and birds and their potential to lead to a human pandemic strain,” he said.
“By working with scientists on the ground in bird flu hotspots – such as Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam – the rapid response team will be able to help identify new strains of influenza and fast track the development of new drugs to treat them.
“The better we understand influenza viruses , the better prepared we will be to fight it in the event of a human influenza pandemic in Queensland.”
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the International Rapid Response Network built on the Queensland Government’s pandemic flu preparations.
“We have a state-wide contingency plan in place in conjunction with other State and Commonwealth agencies,” Mr Robertson said.
“Next month Queensland will host the world’s largest pandemic influenza exercise to test Australia’s preparedness for any outbreak.
“Health and emergency services from around Australia will participate in the four-day event that will exercise border control, quarantine and hospital plans; as well as national and state level response arrangements.
“One of the operational phases will be based at Brisbane Airport to simulate an international arrival of people with suspected pandemic human influenza.”
Mr Robertson said other State Government initiatives included:
• The purchase of two new molecular virology extraction machines worth $170,000 each to increase the surge capacity of the Queensland Health Scientific Services Laboratory to conduct rapid virus testing.
• An enhanced train the trainer program has been provided to 450 health care workers on infection control and pandemic influenza.
22 September 2006
MEDIA CONTACT: Premiers Office: 07 3224 4500 or Health Ministers Office: 07 3225 2680