Standard operating procedure for border
measures–pandemic influenza
Template for Hospital and Health Services
2014
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
Published by the State of Queensland (Queensland Health), May 2014
This document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence.
To view a copy of this licence, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au
© State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2014
You are free to copy, communicate and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the
State of Queensland (Queensland Health).
For more information contact:
Chief Health Officer Branch/Clinical Innovation Division/Communicable Diseases Unit,
Department of Health, GPO Box 2368, Fortitude Valley BC, QLD 4006, email
pandemic_cdu@health.qld.gov.au, phone 33289724 or 33289728.
An electronic version of this document is available at
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/pandemicinfluenza
Disclaimer:
The content presented in this publication is distributed by the Queensland Government as an information source only.
The State of Queensland makes no statements, representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness or
reliability of any information contained in this publication. The State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and all
liability (including without limitation for liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you might
incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason reliance was placed
on such information.
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
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Contents
Governance ........................................................................................................ 1
Authority .............................................................................................................. 1
Amendment list .................................................................................................... 1
Aim…................................................................................................................... 2
Objectives ............................................................................................................ 2
Scope .................................................................................................................. 2
Legislation ........................................................................................................... 3
Authority to activate ............................................................................................. 3
Command, control and coordination................................................................... 3
Command arrangements ..................................................................................... 4
Control arrangements .......................................................................................... 4
Coordination arrangements ................................................................................. 5
Concept of operations ........................................................................................ 6
Review and testing ............................................................................................. 7
Glossary of terms................................................................................................. 7
References .......................................................................................................... 7
Appendices
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
Appendix 5
Appendix 6
Appendix 7
Appendix 8
Appendix 9
Example border measures command arrangements within the
Hospital and Health Services ................................................................. 8
Example border measures job cards ...................................................... 9
Example contact details during response–border measures ................ 11
Example flow chart: communications pathways–border measures
response .............................................................................................. 12
Example contact details for key partners–border measures ................. 13
Example roles and responsibilities–border measures........................... 14
Example summary of border measures response ................................ 16
Example border measures actions checklist......................................... 18
Example screening process ................................................................. 20
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
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TIP – using the pandemic influenza border measures toolkit
The toolkit is a compilation of checklists, forms and templates to assist Hospital and Health
Services (HHS) with planning for the screening of ill international travellers for pandemic
influenza who arrive at Queensland airports and seaports. This standard operating procedure
(SOP) template forms part of the toolkit.
The toolkit is a guide only. It is not prescriptive or exhaustive and should be modified and
expanded to reflect the outcomes of operational planning.
Instructions for using this SOP template:
 transfer this content to the appropriate template within your HHS
 document the outcome of local planning under each section using the resources provided in
the toolkit
 delete the TIP boxes when you have completed a section.
The end result will be a completed SOP which summarises operations for border measures.
Most of the operational information will be in separate appendices for easy distribution during a
response, or you can use the toolkit to update your current SOP.
Governance
Authority
The development, implementation, testing and revision of the SOP are the
responsibilities of (insert nominated HHS position).
Proposed amendments to the SOP should be forwarded to (insert nominated HHS
position and contact details).
Updates will be available at (insert electronic HHS location).
The electronic copy is the master copy and, as such, is the only copy recognised as
being current.
Amendment list
Amendment number
Amendment date
Sections amended
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
Amended by
-1-
Aim
(Insert aim of SOP)
TIP
E.g. Entry screening
 minimise transmission of pandemic influenza into the Australian community (Australian Health
Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza [AHMPPI] p.109).
E.g. Exit screening
 reduce the international spread of pandemic influenza (AHMPPI, p.125).
NB: Although recommendations made in the AHMPPI 2014 do not include a health presence at the
international border, the Australian Government may request jurisdictions to deploy health personnel
at the time of a pandemic event.
Exit screening may be recommended by the World Health Organization under the International
Health Regulations 2005 although this is not an obligation (AHMPPI, p.125).
Objectives
(Insert objectives of SOP)
TIP
E.g. Entry screening
 identify suspected cases of pandemic influenza arriving at the (insert name) international
air/seaport
 arrange testing, antiviral treatment and voluntary isolation of suspected cases.
E.g. Exit screening
 reduce the number of ill travellers travelling from Australia
 arrange testing, antiviral treatment and voluntary isolation of suspected cases.
Scope
(Outline the activities the HHS will undertake. Activities that the HHS will not
undertake could also be documented here.)
Border measures activities that the (insert name) HHS will undertake include:
 (insert activities agreed to be within scope)
Border measures activities that the (insert name) HHS will not undertake include:
 (insert activities agreed to be out of scope)
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
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TIP
E.g. Within scope
 provision of advice to Department of Agriculture (DOA) regarding a suspected case of pandemic
influenza arriving at the international border
 screening of passengers arriving at the international border with influenza-like-illness for
pandemic influenza.
E.g. Outside scope
 screening of international arrivals via sea-faring yachts or military air/sea craft
 screening of international arrivals for other quarantinable diseases
 providing international arrivals with healthcare not related to pandemic influenza.
Legislation
(Insert legislation of SOP)
Relevant Australian Government legislation includes:
 Quarantine Act 1908 (pending the introduction of a new Biosecurity Act)
 Air Navigation Act 1920
 Customs Act 1901
 Privacy Act 1988
 National Health Security Act 2007
TIP
For further detail about how the above legislation supports the implementation of border
measures for pandemic influenza, refer to Appendix A: Legislation and powers of the National
Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic www.dpmc.gov.au/publications/pandemic/
Any other relevant legislation or agreements can be listed here as well—for example:
Torres Strait Treaty (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1984.
For further information about the treaty, visit www.dfat.gov.au/geo/torres_strait/
Authority to activate
The (insert nominated HHS position) has authority to activate the SOP under
delegation from the Chief Health Officer, Queensland Health, or the State Health
Coordinator.
Command, control and coordination
TIP
Development of job cards and flow charts may assist the documentation process for this
section and could be attached to the SOP as appendices.
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
-3-
Command arrangements
TIP
Command is the internal direction of agency members and resources during an incident. This
section should summarise the designated HHS roles which will be involved in leading,
coordinating and implementing border measures, including how they will communicate during
operations and reporting requirements. It is important to note that formal organisational
accountabilities and reporting lines are maintained. It is also important to document which
existing HHS position(s) could undertake each of the proposed roles.
Refer to:
 Appendix 1: Example board measures command arrangements within the HHSs
 Appendix 2: Example border measures job cards
The Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) located (insert location) will direct
border measures activities.
Command roles within the HHS that will lead, coordinate and implement border
measures include:
(Insert bullet list of roles)
For example:
 Border measures sector commander
 Border deployment manager
 Human quarantine officer
 Border nurse.
For further information, please refer to:
 Appendix *: Command roles–border measures
 Appendix *: Job cards–border measures
Control arrangements
TIP
Control refers to the overall direction of emergency management activities and operates across
all agencies involved in the incident. This section should summarise the decision-making
pathway within the HHS, as well as show how HHS command roles will communicate with key
partners and their communications facilities.
Consider a flow chart to show how the HHS EOC, the air/seaport EOC and the State Health
Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) will communicate with each other during border
measures operations.
Refer to:
 Appendix 3: Example contact details during a response–border measures
 Appendix 4: Example communications pathways–border measures
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
-4-
Key partners involved in supporting border measures activities at (insert international
facility e.g. Cairns International Airport) include:
(Insert bullet list of key partners)
For example:
 Cairns Airport Pty Ltd
 Department of Agriculture
 Australian Customs Service
 Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Contact details for command roles and emergency operation centres for the HHS and
key partners are listed in:
 Appendix *: Contact list–border measures response
Communications and reporting pathways are shown in:
 Appendix *: Communications pathways–border measures response
Coordination arrangements
TIP
Coordination is the bringing together of organisations and other resources to support an
emergency management response. This section should include contact details for key partners
for planning and alerting purposes, as well as agreed roles and responsibilities for Queensland
Health and all other agencies that will be involved in implementing border measures.
Refer to:
Appendix 5: Example contact details for key partners
Appendix 6: Example roles and responsibilities
Contact details of key partners for planning and alerting purposes are listed in:
 Appendix *: Contact details of key partners–border measures
Agreed roles and responsibilities for border measures operations are found in:
 Appendix *: Roles and responsibilities–border measures
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
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Concept of operations
TIP
This section should summarise how the HHS will implement border measures reflecting the
AHMPPI stages and what HHS developed resources will be used to support operations at each
stage.
Scalability of operations should take into account clinical severity and transmissibility could be low,
moderate or high and exit screening, as well as entry screening, may be requested.
It should be considered that a health presence at the border may not be requested by the
Australian Government.
To be effective, border measure operations should be implemented when Australia is notified of
sustained human-to-human transmission of a novel virus.
If activated, duration of operations may continue until community transmission is well established,
or until initial enhanced surveillance provides more information about the disease.
Data collected from the first few hundred cases in Australia will inform decisions regarding the best
use of limited public health resources (refer to Surveillance Plan, AHMPPI, p.166–167). National
operational surveillance guidelines will be provided by the Australian Department of Health.
Refer to:
Appendix 7: Example summary of border measures response
Appendix 8: Example border measures actions checklist
Appendix 9: Example airport screening process
TIP
HHSs may consider either of the following models or a combination of both, during the local
planning process:
 developing an SOP which builds on existing arrangements between the air/seaport and the
human quarantine officer (public health medical officer) within the HHS (this model may be
considered if the Australian Government does not indicate at the time of a pandemic that
deployment of nurses to the international border is required).
 developing an SOP which considers a scalable HHS response at the international border
according to the level of disease severity and transmissibility (this model may be considered if
the Australian Government indicates deployment of nurses to the international border is
required).
(Refer to Attachment F: Implementation Guide, AHMPPI.)
Concept of border measures operations in standby, response (initial and targeted) and
stand down stages (including supporting resources) is summarised in:
 Appendix *: Summary of border measures response
A checklist of actions for standby, response (initial and targeted) and stand down
stages is available in:
 Appendix *: Border measures actions checklist
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
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Screening process showing referral pathways for ill travellers is available in:
 Appendix *: (insert document)
Documentation to be used during operations includes:
 Appendix *: (insert documents)
Review and testing
The SOP will be reviewed (insert agreed timeframe e.g. annually, following
activation).
The SOP will be tested at the following timelines:
(Insert agreed timelines e.g. following initial completion, following major
revisions, annually.)
Glossary of terms
Term
Definition/explanation/details
e.g. Standard operating
procedure
A set of directions detailing the agreed response to a specific event
or an agreed system of best practice in carrying out certain tasks.
References
Examples include:
1.
Queensland Department of Health. Queensland Health pandemic influenza plan.
2014.
(Web address TBC)
2.
Australian Department of Health. Australian Management Plan for Pandemic
Influenza. 2014.
(Web address TBC)
3.
Department of Health and Ageing. National Pandemic Influenza Airport Border
Operations Plan. 2009.
www.flupandemic.gov.au/internet/panflu/publishing.nsf/content/fluborderplan
4.
Queensland Department of Health. Queensland Health disaster plan. 2014.
(Web address TBC)
5.
National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian Guidelines for the
Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare. 2010.
www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/cd33
6.
Communicable Disease Network of Australia. Influenza Infection: National
Guidelines for Public Health Units. 2011.
www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cdna-song-influenza.htm
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
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Appendix 1
Example border measures command arrangements within the
Hospital and Health Services
NB: This is an example only. Role titles and responsibilities as well as first and second nominated positions should be confirmed during
the local planning process.
HHS role
Responsibility
Communicates with
Reports to
Role location
Nominated HHS positions
(to undertake role)
Border measures
sector commander
Coordinate border
measures operations




Operations officer
HEOC
 1st
 2nd
IMT
Air/seaport EOC
Human quarantine officer
Border deployment
manager
Human quarantine
officer
Provide advice to DOA
officer/border nurse
regarding ill traveller
with suspected PI
 DOA officer
 Border nurses
 Chief quarantine officer
Border measures
sector commander
(insert name)
Public Health Unit
 1st Public health physician
 2nd
Border deployment
manager
Coordinate the
deployment of staff to
the border
 Border measures sector
(insert role)
HHS
(insert specific
location)
 1st
 2nd
Screen international
traveller with ILI for PI
according to the case
definition
 Human quarantine officer
 Border deployment
Border measures
sector commander
(insert name)
air/seaport
 1st Registered nurses
 2nd Enrolled nurses
Border nurse
commander
 Border nurses
manager
 DOA officer
(TIP: Include a prioritised list of HHS
areas from which nurses could be
deployed. NB: Nurses should not be
deployed from emergency, critical care,
intensive care, infection control or public
health units)
HHS: Hospital and Health Service
IMT: Incident Management Team (situated in Health Emergency Operations Centre)
HEOC: Health Emergency Operations Centre
DOA: Department of Agriculture
PI: pandemic influenza
ILI: influenza-like-illness
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza – Template for Hospital and Health Services
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Appendix 2
Example border measures job
cards
NB: These are examples only. Role titles and responsibilities should be confirmed
during the local planning process. For more examples of job cards, refer to the
Emergency incident management framework (Health Protection Program)
http://qheps.health.qld.gov.au/ehpom/incidentmgt.htm
Border deployment manager (example)
Title:
Border deployment manager
Authority:
Including, but not limited to:
 Disaster Management Act (2003)
 Public Health Act (2005)
 Quarantine Act 1907
 Hospital and Health Boards Act (2011)
 Health Act (1937)
Key responsibility:
 Manage the recruitment, training and deployment of registered nurses and administrative
support staff from (insert name) HHS to the international airport or seaport.
Key tasks:
 Arrange appropriate just-in-time training for staff prior to deployment, including air/seaport
orientation, review of pandemic influenza, screening procedure and review of infection control
principles and procedures.
 Ensure all staff have received seasonal influenza vaccine (and candidate/pandemic influenza
vaccine if available) prior to deployment.
Appointed by:
(Insert role)
Reports to:
(Insert role)
Delegates to:
(Insert role/s)
Key contacts:
(Insert role/s)
Key documents:
 Queensland Health disaster plan
 Queensland Health pandemic influenza plan
 Hospital and Health service pandemic plan
 Standing operating procedure: pandemic influenza–border measures
flu border plan
 Air/seaport pandemic influenza plans
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza – Template
for Hospital and Health Services
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Border nurse (example)
Title:
Border nurse
Authority:
(Including, but not limited to)
 Disaster Management Act (2003)
 Public Health Act (2005)
 Quarantine Act 1907
 Hospital and Health Boards Act (2011)
 Health Act (1937)
Key responsibility:
 Screen ill travellers disembarking at (insert facility) for pandemic influenza.
Key tasks:
 Use established screening protocol to screen ill international travellers presenting with
influenza-like-illness for pandemic influenza who have been identified via positive pratique,
thermal scanners or health declaration cards.
 Notify human quarantine officer regarding suspected case(s) of pandemic influenza identified
by positive pratique.
 Notify human quarantine officer of pandemic influenza screening outcomes.
 Where pandemic influenza is not indicated, refer to DOA officer to continue routine
assessment for other quarantinable diseases.
 Act as a positive role model for consistent infection control practices within the air/seaport
setting.
 Maintain stock in the designated health screening area (i.e. personal protective equipment,
alcoholic hand gel, tissues, clinical waste bags, disinfecting wipes).
 Disinfect the immediate environment in between screening ill travellers.
 Arrange for complete cleaning and disinfection of the entire designated health screening and
waiting area in between screening sessions.
 If required, provide basic life support for an ill traveller who has presented for pandemic
influenza screening until further assistance arrives (i.e. Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting,
Queensland Ambulance Service).
Appointed by:
(Insert role)
Reports to:
(Insert role)
Key contacts:
Department of Agriculture officers
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officers
Key documents:
 Queensland Health disaster plan
 Queensland Health pandemic influenza plan
 Hospital and Health service pandemic plan
 Standing operating procedure: pandemic influenza–border measures
flu border plan
 Air/seaport pandemic influenza plans
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza – Template
for Hospital and Health Services
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Appendix 3
Example contact details during response–border measures
This document could be used to list contact details for border measures roles within the HHS and key partners during a response.
NB: Some contact details may not be available until operations are activated.
Role
Location
Phone
Fax
Email
e.g. border nurse
Insert name of international
air/seaport
Insert landline and/or mobile
number(s) used when
deployed to international
air/seaport
Insert fax number(s) that will
be used when deployed to
international air/seaport
Insert generic email to use when
deployed to international air/seaport
e.g. airport incident
controller*
Insert name of airport
emergency operations
centre
Insert landline and/or mobile
number(s) used during a
response
Insert fax number(s) used
during a response
Insert email address used during a
response
*Example only – role titles will need to be confirmed during the local planning process.
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza – Template for Hospital and Health Services
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Appendix 4
Example flow chart: communications pathways–border
measures response
NB: This is a simplified flow chart to depict how communication and reporting processes may occur between Queensland Health, the
air/seaport and the Queensland disaster management system during operations. Processes and role titles should be confirmed during the
local planning process.
State Health Coordinator
Chief Quarantine Officer
(Senior Director,
Communicable Diseases
Unit)
State Health Incident Controller
State Health Emergency Coordination
Centre
State Disaster Coordinator
State Disaster Coordination
Centre
Health Incident Controller
Health Emergency Operations
Centre
District Disaster Coordinator
District Disaster Coordination
Centre
Local Disaster Coordinator
Local Disaster Coordination
Centre
Border Deployment
Border Measures
Sector Commander
Manager
Border Nurse
Support Officer
Human Quarantine
Officer
Air/seaport Incident Controller
Air/seaport Emergency Operations
Centre
Customs Officer
Department of Agriculture Officer
Communications pathway
Reporting pathway
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza – Template for Hospital and Health Services
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Appendix 5
Example contact details for key partners–border measures
NB: This document could be used for planning and alerting purposes.
Agency
Position
Name
Phone/fax
Email
e.g. Brisbane Airport
Corporation
e.g. Port of Brisbane
e.g. Department of Agriculture
(airport and/or seaport)
e.g. Australian Customs and
Border Protection Service
(airport and/or seaport)
e.g. Department of Immigration
and Border Protection
(airport and/or seaport)
e.g. Queensland Fire and
Emergency Services
(specify region/location)
Etc.
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza – Template for Hospital and Health Services
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Appendix 6
Example roles and
responsibilities–border
measures
NB: This table is an example only and has been modified from Appendix 2:
Queensland Health Pandemic Influenza Guidelines: Enhanced Border Control
Measures at International Airports 2009. Review by HHS and key partners is required
during the local planning process.
 Federal
 Responsibilities
agencies
Australian
Department of
Health
 Provide health assessment support to Queensland Health.
 Provide pandemic-specific in-flight/on-board announcements.
 Arrange for distribution of communications materials for incoming or outgoing
travellers.
 Provide travel advice regarding high-risk locations and to raised awareness of
symptoms if returning from travel.
 Provide information for border staff.
 Arrange transportation of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the
national medical stockpile to all international air/seaports.
 Arrange for collection from Customs of health declaration cards (HDC) from
aircraft/sea vessels with a positive pratique after processing by border nurses
and Customs (if HDCs are to be used).
 Load information from HDC onto a database and make the information
available as required.
 Establish national policies if directing jurisdictions to place contacts in
quarantine.
 Provide funding reimbursements for costs incurred by the jurisdictions related
to border measures.
Department of
Foreign Affairs and
Trade (DFAT)
 Liaise with foreign embassies to ensure adequate support provided to persons
Department of
Agriculture (DOA)
 Provide a representative to the air/seaport IMT.
 Ensure DOA staff is trained in the safe and appropriate use of PPE.
 Operate thermal image scanners to screen disembarking travellers for elevated
from other countries.
 Provide media advice concerning international media.
 Coordinate repatriation arrangements for foreign nationals if required.
skin temperature as they proceed towards the primary line.
 Accompany border nurse to aircraft/sea vessel that has reported a traveller on
board which has an influenza-like-illness (this may not be required if contacts
will not be quarantined at the border).
 Escort travellers identified by thermal imaging or HDC to the border nurses for
further assessment.
Australian Customs
and Border
Protection Service
(ACBPS)
 Provide a representative to the air/seaport IMT.
 Ensure ACBPS staff is trained in the safe and appropriate use of PPE.
 Assist with collection of Passenger Locator Forms (PLFs) and assess for
Australian Federal
Police (AFP)
 Provide a representative to the air/seaport IMT.
 Provide a law enforcement presence and response capacity as required.
Aviation Rescue
and Fire Fighting
(ARFF)
 Provide medical assistance and emergency treatment to medically
completion (if applicable).
compromised persons within the airport environment while waiting Queensland
Ambulance Service (QAS) arrival.
 Provide medical support to border nurses when requested.
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
- 14 -
 Ensure ARFF staff is trained in the safe and appropriate use of PPE.
Queensland
agencies
Responsibilities
Queensland Fire
and Emergency
Services
(QFES)
 Establish and coordinate the IMT at the air/seaport.
 Ensure QFES staff is trained in the safe and appropriate use of PPE.
 Provide support to Queensland Health as required (including establishing
communications pathways with key partners if required).
 Provide equipment for operations not able to be supplied by the HHS or the
air/seaport operator.
 Provide reports to the SHECC.
 Coordinate on-site media.
 Coordinate arrangements between the State and Australian Government.
Hospital and Health
Service (HHS)
(includes
Queensland
Ambulance Service)
 Coordinate the health response for pandemic influenza at the border.
 Provide a representative on the air/seaport IMT.
 Deploy nurses to the international air/seaport to undertake pandemic influenza
screening of travellers with influenza-like-illness.




Provide quarantine and infection control advice.
Coordinate medical resources.
Provide emergency treatment to medically compromised persons.
Provide ambulance transport to hospital for those requiring further assessment
or hospitalisation.
 Maintain detailed records of the costs associated with the deployment of border
nurses and provide these details to the Australian Government upon request.
Department of
Communities, Child
Safety and Disability
Services
 Organise social assistance to affected travellers.
 Provide access to a range of community agencies/services, including access to
Other agencies
Responsibilities
Sea/airlines






Provide a representative to the air/seaport IMT.




Provide a representative to the air/seaport IMT.
Air/seaport operator
mental health services.
 Monitor care arrangements for unaccompanied minors if required.
Assist in provision of onward movement advice to other destinations.
Provide advice and support to crew and passengers.
Ensure all crew members are trained in the safe and appropriate use of PPE.
Distribute PLFs to all travellers on board the aircraft/sea vessel.
Clean and disinfect aircraft/sea vessels after all travellers have disembarked.
Provide facilities for screening area.
Provide personnel to undertake support roles.
Clean and disinfect the air/seaport environment (including the designated
screening area where border nurses are located).
 Provide appropriate disposal units for tissues and other contaminated waste.
 Collection, storage and disposal of waste in the facility.
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
- 15 -
Appendix 7
Example summary of border
measures response
Stage of response
Actions to consider during
planning
Examples of resources HHS may
consider developing
Standby stage
Main actions
Resources
Trigger:
New novel influenza virus with
pandemic potential has been
detected overseas
AND
Australian Government indicates
that a health presence will be
required at the international border
 HHS to contact key stakeholders
 Border measures actions
NB: Standby stage for border
measures may last a matter of
hours
and place on standby.
checklist–standby (Appendix *).
 Existing arrangements between
HQO and DOA to continue with
heightened suspicion for ILI in
travellers returning from affected
countries.
 Identify and place border nurses
on standby and initiate just-intime training.
 Place on standby the human and
material resources required to
set up a screening area at the
air/seaport.
TIP: Refer to Appendix 8:
Example border measures
actions checklist.
 Contact list for key partners
(Appendix *).
 PI screening and referral
process–HQO and DOA
 (Appendix *)^.
TIP: Refer to Appendix 9:
Example airport referral
process.
 HHS deployment package
(Appendix *).
 Set-up of screening area at
air/seaport (Appendix *).
Response stage
Main actions
Resources
Trigger:
New novel influenza virus overseas
shows sustained human-to-human
transmission
AND
Australian Government requests
entry/exit screening at the
international border.
If requested by the Australian or
Queensland Government:
 Border measures actions
 notify HHS and all key partners
 Set-up of screening area at
NB: Border measures response
may occur when Australia/
Queensland is in standby stage.
 collect nasopharyngeal
that operations have commenced
 set up the screening area at the
border
 deploy nurses to the border .
 screen international travellers
with an ILI for PI
checklist–response (Appendix *).
air/seaport (Appendix *).
 HHS deployment package
(Appendix *).
 Job cards (Appendix *).
 PI screening and referral
process–border nurses
 (Appendix *).
specimens from suspected cases
of PI
 provide antivirals to suspected
cases of PI
 request voluntary home isolation
for suspected cases of PI while
awaiting test results and provide
information
 establish communications and
reporting requirements with HHS
and external stakeholders
 establish briefing and debriefing
arrangements for border nurses
prior to and when finishing shifts.
Stand down stage
Main actions
Resources
Trigger:
Community transmission of PI well
established.
 Cease operations.
 Hold hot debrief for HHS staff.
 Hold interagency formal debrief.
 Border measures actions
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
checklist–stand down
(Appendix *).
 Border measures hot debrief
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 Evaluate border measures
operations.
(Appendix *).
 Border measures formal debrief
(Appendix *)^.
HQO: Human quarantine officer
DOA: Department of Agriculture
ILI: Influenza-like-illness
PI: Pandemic influenza
^Health Protection Public Health Incident Debrief Form located at:
http://qheps.health.qld.gov.au/dcho/contacts/health-protect/incident-management/jobcards-templates.htm
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
- 17 -
Appendix 8
Example border measures
actions checklist
Standby stage for
border measures (example)
Actions (example)
Trigger:
Novel influenza virus overseas
shows sustained human-tohuman transmission
AND
Australian Government
indicates that a health
presence will be required at
the international border.
 Review pandemic influenza border measures
Status
(e.g. initiated,
complete)
SOP.
 Appoint pre-identified HHS positions to all border
measures roles and place on standby.
 Alert key partners for border measures and place
on standby.
 Review emergency management arrangements
for border measures operations.
 Review agreed roles and responsibilities of the
NB: Standby stage for
border measures may last a
matter of hours
HHS and key partners.
 Continue existing arrangements between human
quarantine officer and DOA with heightened
suspicion for influenza-like-illness in travellers
returning from affected overseas countries.
 Review screening procedure for returned ill
travellers according to available information
regarding disease characteristics.
 Assess availability of nurses and support staff
and place on standby.
 Place the pre-determined (and scalable) roster
for HHS staff on standby.
 Review and escalate frequency of providing the
HHS Deployment Training Program.
 Ensure all staff to be deployed to the air/seaport
have been vaccinated (if pandemic or candidate
vaccine available).
 Ensure all staff to be deployed to the air/seaport
have been offered antiviral pre-exposure
prophylaxis (if indicated).
 Review screening/waiting area at the air/seaport,
including storage capacity and supply line for
PPE and antivirals.
 Review set-up procedure for the
screening/waiting area, including required
infrastructure.
 Review security and parking arrangements at the
air/seaport and place on standby.
 Notify command role for home management
operations that border measures operations are
on standby.
Response stage for border
measures (example)
Actions (example)
Trigger:
Novel influenza virus overseas
shows sustained human-tohuman transmission
 Notify all HHS and key partners operations have
Status (e. g.
initiated,
complete)
commenced.
 Set up the screening area at the air/seaport.
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
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AND
Australian Government
requests entry/exit screening
at the international border.
 Request PPE and antivirals to be deployed to
NB: Border measures
response may occur when
Australia/Queensland is in
standby stage
 Deploy nurses and support staff to the
the air/seaport.
 Establish communications and reporting
requirements with HHS command roles for
border measures and with key partners.
air/seaport.
Ensure all deployed staff have:
 up-to-date information regarding infection
control, case definitions, at-risk groups, etc
 Health Support Coordination Unit contact details
(for suspected cases that require health or
community support while in voluntary home
isolation).
 (Insert relevant sections of the home
management SOP that contain information
regarding the referral, documentation and
communications processes required for home
management operations.)
 (Insert relevant documents for assessment and
supply of antivirals.)
 Notify command role for home management
operations that border measures operations
have commenced.
 Commence screening ill travellers returning from
overseas for pandemic influenza.
 Establish briefing and handover arrangements
for deployed HHS staff prior to starting shifts and
when finishing shifts.
 Monitor deployed staff for fatigue and influenzalike-illness.
 Scale operations up or down according to latest
disease information and resource capacity.
 If required, recruit more nursing and support staff
to ensure sustainability of operations.
 If required, continue just-in-time training/review
for staff being deployed to the air/seaport.
Stand down stage for border
measures (example)
Actions (example)
Trigger:
Community transmission of
pandemic influenza well
established in Queensland
 Notify HHS command roles for border measures
Status (e.g.
initiated,
complete)
and key partners when the Australian
Government has advised operations to cease.
 Notify command role for home management
operations that border measures operations
have ceased.
 Hold hot debrief for HHS staff.
 Redeploy HHS staff.
 Return resources to Queensland Health.
 Hold interagency formal debrief when able.
 Evaluate operations when able.
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
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Appendix 9
Example screening process
The following flow chart depicts screening process at the international airport for
pandemic influenza which builds on existing arrangements (i.e. without border nurses
in place).
(Obtained from menu of actions: border measures, AHMPPI 2014, p.111)
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
- 20 -
Department of Health
Standard operating procedure for border measures
www.health.qld.gov.au
Standard operating procedure for border measures–pandemic influenza
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