Better health and ageing for all Australians

Disease Guidelines

An Acute Flaccid Paralysis and Poliomyelitis Response Plan for Australia

This document was compiled by the Office of Health Protection in the Department of Health and Ageing.

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HTML version of An Acute Flaccid Paralysis and Poliomyelitis Response Plan for Australia

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Purpose of this document

This response plan has been prepared for use should one or more cases of poliovirus infection occur in Australia and outlines the routine surveillance procedures currently in place to detect potential poliovirus infections.

The Department of Health and Ageing has prepared this document as a guide for key stakeholders involved in disease surveillance and control, as part of Australia’s preparedness in addressing the potential public health, medicolegal, social, community, political, trade and international relations impact of a case of polio. The response plan is based on a risk management approach for biological emergencies, that recognises that:
  • such an event will occur infrequently;
  • the evidence base for decision making may be limited and evolving; and
  • community concern may be disproportionate to the level of physical risk.


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