Swine flu in Victoria - alert measures move up a level

The number of confirmed swine flu cases in Australia has now reached 502 - three quarters of which are in Victoria and as a result the state's alert measures have been moved from "contain" to the next level, the "sustain" phase.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says the "sustain" phase will help to protect more vulnerable people in the community but does not mean public transport or public events will be restricted.

Victoria's health officials have given up on attempts to contain the spread of swine flu and say they are upgrading the states pandemic alert status to a new, more "realistic" phase of sustain - this indicates that the virus is now rife in the community and no longer mainly imported from overseas or confined to a small clusters of cases, as in other states and territories.

This change of status will mean far fewer contacts of swine flu cases will be traced, tested or quarantined in Victoria, and is an admission that the spread of swine flu in the community is beyond the ability of health authorities control.

It will also mean free antiviral treatments will now be reserved for confirmed swine flu cases and their immediate household contacts as well as hospital, schools and nursing homes where swine flu can wreak the most damage.

Free antiviral treatments were previously made widely available to those with flu-like symptoms who had returned from overseas or who had less direct exposure to those with the disease.

But it will also mean that more radical steps could be taken if necessary such as the cancellation of major sporting events and curbs on domestic travel - this is not anticipated so far because of the mild nature of the disease.

Other states and territories are expected to remain on a lower pandemic alert level of contain, with tougher tracing, testing and quarantining rules still in operation along with random or "sentinel" testing of people with flu-like symptoms in order to estimate and track changes in its prevalence, compared to the usual seasonal flu.

Health officials say it is inevitable that other states and territories will move to this phase over time and all efforts are being put into delaying that for as long as possible.