06 May 2009: Co-Hosting Coping with Pandemics-Is Australia Ready? on ABC Radio

As H1N1 influenza continues to spread across the world, ABC local radio around Australia asks: how Australia would cope if it were hit right now by a pandemic, bio-terror attack or other large-scale disaster?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved an extension to the shelf-life of anti-viral drug Tamiflu as well asrationing the drug, and the Federal Government quickly brought in additional border protection measures in response to the possible pandemic.

Would this be enough to stop a major pandemic?

While both State and Federal Governments say they have been planning for the worst, some critics say Australia is underprepared.

Others say that what Australia does within its own borders is futile unless there is a global effort to help poorer countries improve their own health services.

So what lessons can be learned from the swine-flu experience?

Listen to the Audio – [http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/05/06/2562018.htm](http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/05/06/2562018.htm)