There is evidence to support HCWs' fears of the increased risk in accident and emergency and intensive care departments as studies had found H1N1 attack rates among staff highest in these departments [5, 18] . Concepts for a surveillance system in this population could focus primarily in these departments where HCWs may have a higher invested interest. However, even during a pandemic, at varying World Health Organisation levels of alerts, it was difficult to motivate HCWs to take precautionary measures [19] .