The pandemic had a less severe impact on the general population than originally anticipated; 2 however, Aboriginal people were more likely to require admission to hospital and more likely to die from influenza than non-Aboriginal Australians. 1,3,4 In addition, the 2009 pandemic confirmed that Aboriginal people experience the complications of the influenza virus, whether pandemic or seasonal strains, more often than the non-Aboriginal Australian population. 1,4,5 Reasons for these disparities are multifactorial, including high prevalence of chronic diseases, high pregnancy rates and socioeconomic factors such as reduced access to health care and barriers to health-seeking behaviour. 1,5,6 Since causing the pandemic in 2009, the influenza A(H1N1) virus (abbreviated as A(H1N1)pdm09) 2,7 has been circulating in the Australian population and is now considered a seasonal strain. The strain has been incorporated into the trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine since 2010. 8 The general population is no longer considered to be A(H1N1)pdm09 naïve due to previous exposure or vaccination. 9 Thus, the strain is not expected to cause greater morbidity or mortality than other seasonal strains.As currently available seasonal influenza vaccines confer protection for about a year, annual vaccination is required for ongoing protection. 10Globally, Aboriginal populations are at higher risk of increased exposure, clinical infection, complications and consequences of influenza. Socioeconomic and cultural circumstances often determine that large families live together. 11,12 Overcrowding leads to increased transmission of the influenza virus, 13,14 resulting in high influenza attack rates in Indigenous populations internationally. 11,15,16 Aboriginal people in Australia also are known to be an at-risk group for influenza; 2,17 however, less is known about the natural history of the influenza virus within remote Aboriginal communities.In March 2013, a paediatrician reported a suspected outbreak of influenza-like illness (ILI) in a remote Aboriginal community in north-west Western Australia to the regional population health unit. An investigation was conducted by the regional population health unit with the following objectives: to describe and control the outbreak; to determine why the community had remained vulnerable to A(H1N1)pdm09 more than three years after Aust NZ J Public Health. 2015; 39:15-20; doi: 10.1111/1753 Abstract Objective: To describe a 2013 outbreak of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus in a remote Western Australian Aboriginal community; inform outbreak prevention and control measures and discuss the community susceptibility to H1N1, three years after the A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic. An outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) virus in a remote Methods:Records at the local clinic were used to classify cases as 'confirmed' (laboratory test positive for H1N1 or temperature >38°C with cough and/or sore throat) or 'probable' (selfreported fever with cough and/or sore throat). Additional data were collected from medical records and public ...