Retreat beaten by pig sniffles

So logically…. if Bin Laden et al. manage to have one or two of their guys contract piglet fever,we’ll bring our guys home to safety (after all we don’t want to expose them to a potentially fatal illness)?

Beat Retreat is in October.

Media release

Cancellation of Queens Birthday Parade at the Royal Military College

Defence has taken the precautionary measure of cancelling tomorrow’s Queens Birthday Parade Trooping of the Queen’s Colour at Duntroon tomorrow after an RMC Cadet was confirmed to have H1N1 Human Swine Influenza. The member is in isolation and his condition is satisfactory.

This member may have come into contact with a number of other RMC Cadets. These cadets have been placed in isolation and their conditions are being closely monitored. This is consistent with guidance issued by health authorities. As a result, a number of cadets will not be available to participate in tomorrow’s parade, which has made the activity untenable.

Defence has a framework in place to monitor and report the incidence of H1N1 Human Swine Influenza. Defence is also ready to test and treat individuals presenting symptoms and has the capacity to conduct on base treatment or quarantine if required. We will continue to closely monitor and conform to Federal and State containment practices.

This case at RMC is being managed in direct liaison with ACT Health, which is advising what further management of potential contacts is required.

Although the cancellation of this parade is regrettable, the wellbeing of the RMC cadets is Defence’s highest priority. Defence apologies for the inconvenience this decision may have caused.

The story was on local radio this afternoon, and AAP issued a story at 5:16pm…it looks like Xinhua rewrote part of the AAP story as the second quoted paragraph is from the AAP copy.

Still, I agree, odd for Xinhua to run the story.

This is a highlight of the June long weekend and was once an excellent garnish to the Hatchet Trophy Rugby match between RMC and ANU and drinks at Duntroon House … oh the memories …

Piggy flu is now up there with Osama Bin Laden and his airplane terrorists.. the last time it was cancelled..

I thought it was normally held in September??

Nice, just shows how good our local media is.