Later than expected flu
August 26, 2010
EXPERTS from the Influenza
Specialist Group are warning of a
“later than expected” flu outbreak.
The warning comes on the back
of data from the National
Notifiable Diseases Surveillance
System which suggests that rates of
influenza in Australia may be on
the rise, and that cases in NZ have
in the past few weeks risen sharply
(H1N1 being the main circulating
strain).
“The timing of the flu season can
vary somewhat each year, but
current data now show that
infections are on the increase in
Australia and influenza is now at
significant levels in New Zealand,
which usually shortly precedes
Australia,” said Dr Alan Hampson,
OAM, Chair of the Influenza
Specialist Group.
“To us this means that outbreaks
are imminent,” he added.
As such the ISG is advising
Aussies to get vaccinated, and for
those that contract the virus to get
prescribed an appropriate antiviral
and take it within 48 hours of
symptom onset.
Prof. Booy of The Children’s
Hospital at Westmead is also
advising those that contract
influenza to stay at home and not
risk infecting others.
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