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Abbott considers travel ban
Health Minister Tony Abbott has said the government was considering travel bans on interstate travel and public gatherings as part of plans to tackle the possible spread of bird flu across the country.
Mr Abbott told the Ten Network, “Cancellation of interstate travel, border closures between different parts of the country and cancellation of large public gatherings are being considered.”
Mr Abbott’s comments were made by him in Ottawa as delegtes from 30 countries concluded a two day bird flu summit.
News Ltd newspapers reported Mr Abbott telling the Conference, “The government is negotiating with Qantas to fly home Australians stranded in countries affected by bird flu who wish to return home in the event of a global pandemic breaking out”. “But this could be extremely complicated given possible disruption to flights”. “Issues the government would have to consider are whether to close borders and the adequacy and possible enforcement of home or hotel quarantine for people with exposure to disease.”
Mr Abbott said state and territory governments were also considering how best to triage potential flu cases, how best to treat people in their homes and how to staff and deploy mobile triage and treatment teams” to ensure people who were merely worried were not infected by those who were actually ill.
The summit called for a united international effort to prevent a pandemic, with the shortage of anti-viral drugs at the top of the agenda.
Australia will next week host a two-day regional summit on how well prepared Asian nations are for a bird flu pandemic and the meeting is expected to work out how APEC’s 21 member economies can cooperate in a regional response to bird flu and discuss issues including border closures, antiviral drugs and how to maintain essential services during an outbreak.
Report by The Mole
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