The Medical journal of Australia
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Australian federal and state governments were advised several years ago that an influenza pandemic would overwhelm Australian public reference laboratories. It was proposed at the time that currently underused capacity in the private sector be used to enhance pandemic responses. The current outbreak of pandemic influenza has confirmed the predictions of advisors from the private sector. Future official pandemic plans should be adjusted to take into account these observations.
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To determine the health status of people in Australian immigration detention centres and the effect of time in, and reason for, detention. ⋯ People in immigration detention are frequent users of health services, and there is a clear association between time in detention and rates of mental illness. Government policies internationally should be informed by evidence from studies of the health of this marginalised and often traumatised group.