Special report: Swine flu in Australia
He said if that happened then Australia would have the biggest wave of sickies in history.
"If we keep following the quarantine model there will be massive closures of offices, shops and schools and people will be reluctant to travel on public transport," he said.
"This could as much economic damage as the global financial crisis."
Mr Winderlich said one way to minimise the threat was for businesses and schools to switch to telecommuting so people could work and study from home.
"Students and public servants can work from home while they are in quarantine and more shops can home-deliver groceries," he said.
"This will help keep the economy ticking over and protect the income of casual workers who can't take sick leave."
Mr Winderlich said the state and federal governments should immediately call industry leaders and internet service providers together to start making plans so their workforces could work from home.
The State Government yesterday upgraded the number of confirmed cases in Victoria to 1210, but acting chief health officer Dr Rosemary Lester conceded the real number of Victorian cases was three to four times higher.
So far 32 Victorians have been admitted to hospital with swine flu, with three still battling the virus in intensive care units yesterday.
A Western Hospital spokesman said two patients were in a serious but stable condition a week after being admitted.
The size of Victoria's outbreak is now so great that only those most at risk - the elderly, pregnant women and those with other underlying medical conditions - are being tested, resulting in 199 new cases last week.
"At the moment cases confirmed in the laboratory signify only a small fraction of the cases," Dr Lester said.
"It could be three or four times the laboratory confirmed number, but it's very hard to estimate, given the mild nature of the virus. It is not anywhere near the one in three some have suggested.
"We don't know how many cases are out there in the community because many cases are mild and don't even require presenting to a GP." The pandemic has also escalated overseas, with UK officials announcing the first swine flu death outside the Americas after an infected patient died in a Scottish Hospital on Sunday.
A statement from the Scottish Government said the patient had "underlying health conditions".
Australia's two million asthmatics have been warned to be extra wary of swine flu after a US study revealed they are more likely to be admitted to hospital if infected.
More than 40 per cent of those admitted after catching swine flu in New York also have asthma, prompting the National Asthma Council of Australia to urge asthmatics to get a lung function test from their GP.
"We appreciate in these tough economic times that some people will be trying to contain their healthcare costs," NAC chairman Dr Noela Whitby said.
"But in the midst of this particularly difficult flu season, it's really important people with asthma consult their doctor now to ensure their lung health is being effectively managed during winter." [rc]
© Herald and Weekly Times
June 16, 2009
AUSTRALIA: Far too many potential swine flu cases to test
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MELBOURNE, Victoria / The Herald Sun / June 16, 2009
By Grant McArthur with AAP
SWINE flu could cause more economic problems than the global financial crisis if quarantine continues.
Almost 5000 Victorians are now estimated to have been infected with the virus, which has claimed its first life outside the Americas.
South Australian Democrat MP David Winderlich said between 10 and 30 per cent of the Australian population were predicted to get swine flu.
Special report: Swine flu in Australia
He said if that happened then Australia would have the biggest wave of sickies in history.
"If we keep following the quarantine model there will be massive closures of offices, shops and schools and people will be reluctant to travel on public transport," he said.
"This could as much economic damage as the global financial crisis."
Mr Winderlich said one way to minimise the threat was for businesses and schools to switch to telecommuting so people could work and study from home.
"Students and public servants can work from home while they are in quarantine and more shops can home-deliver groceries," he said.
"This will help keep the economy ticking over and protect the income of casual workers who can't take sick leave."
Mr Winderlich said the state and federal governments should immediately call industry leaders and internet service providers together to start making plans so their workforces could work from home.
The State Government yesterday upgraded the number of confirmed cases in Victoria to 1210, but acting chief health officer Dr Rosemary Lester conceded the real number of Victorian cases was three to four times higher.
So far 32 Victorians have been admitted to hospital with swine flu, with three still battling the virus in intensive care units yesterday.
A Western Hospital spokesman said two patients were in a serious but stable condition a week after being admitted.
The size of Victoria's outbreak is now so great that only those most at risk - the elderly, pregnant women and those with other underlying medical conditions - are being tested, resulting in 199 new cases last week.
"At the moment cases confirmed in the laboratory signify only a small fraction of the cases," Dr Lester said.
"It could be three or four times the laboratory confirmed number, but it's very hard to estimate, given the mild nature of the virus. It is not anywhere near the one in three some have suggested.
"We don't know how many cases are out there in the community because many cases are mild and don't even require presenting to a GP." The pandemic has also escalated overseas, with UK officials announcing the first swine flu death outside the Americas after an infected patient died in a Scottish Hospital on Sunday.
A statement from the Scottish Government said the patient had "underlying health conditions".
Australia's two million asthmatics have been warned to be extra wary of swine flu after a US study revealed they are more likely to be admitted to hospital if infected.
More than 40 per cent of those admitted after catching swine flu in New York also have asthma, prompting the National Asthma Council of Australia to urge asthmatics to get a lung function test from their GP.
"We appreciate in these tough economic times that some people will be trying to contain their healthcare costs," NAC chairman Dr Noela Whitby said.
"But in the midst of this particularly difficult flu season, it's really important people with asthma consult their doctor now to ensure their lung health is being effectively managed during winter." [rc]
© Herald and Weekly Times
Special report: Swine flu in Australia
He said if that happened then Australia would have the biggest wave of sickies in history.
"If we keep following the quarantine model there will be massive closures of offices, shops and schools and people will be reluctant to travel on public transport," he said.
"This could as much economic damage as the global financial crisis."
Mr Winderlich said one way to minimise the threat was for businesses and schools to switch to telecommuting so people could work and study from home.
"Students and public servants can work from home while they are in quarantine and more shops can home-deliver groceries," he said.
"This will help keep the economy ticking over and protect the income of casual workers who can't take sick leave."
Mr Winderlich said the state and federal governments should immediately call industry leaders and internet service providers together to start making plans so their workforces could work from home.
The State Government yesterday upgraded the number of confirmed cases in Victoria to 1210, but acting chief health officer Dr Rosemary Lester conceded the real number of Victorian cases was three to four times higher.
So far 32 Victorians have been admitted to hospital with swine flu, with three still battling the virus in intensive care units yesterday.
A Western Hospital spokesman said two patients were in a serious but stable condition a week after being admitted.
The size of Victoria's outbreak is now so great that only those most at risk - the elderly, pregnant women and those with other underlying medical conditions - are being tested, resulting in 199 new cases last week.
"At the moment cases confirmed in the laboratory signify only a small fraction of the cases," Dr Lester said.
"It could be three or four times the laboratory confirmed number, but it's very hard to estimate, given the mild nature of the virus. It is not anywhere near the one in three some have suggested.
"We don't know how many cases are out there in the community because many cases are mild and don't even require presenting to a GP." The pandemic has also escalated overseas, with UK officials announcing the first swine flu death outside the Americas after an infected patient died in a Scottish Hospital on Sunday.
A statement from the Scottish Government said the patient had "underlying health conditions".
Australia's two million asthmatics have been warned to be extra wary of swine flu after a US study revealed they are more likely to be admitted to hospital if infected.
More than 40 per cent of those admitted after catching swine flu in New York also have asthma, prompting the National Asthma Council of Australia to urge asthmatics to get a lung function test from their GP.
"We appreciate in these tough economic times that some people will be trying to contain their healthcare costs," NAC chairman Dr Noela Whitby said.
"But in the midst of this particularly difficult flu season, it's really important people with asthma consult their doctor now to ensure their lung health is being effectively managed during winter." [rc]
© Herald and Weekly Times
