Australia sees 100-fold surge in influenza cases since last 2 months

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.news9live.com/health/aus...au2180-2071823

Australia sees 100-fold surge in influenza cases since last 2 months
News9Live Staff
Published: 10 Mar 2023 11:27:AM

According to department data, there were 8,453 confirmed influenza cases in Australia through the first two months of 2023, up from just 79 during the same time period in 2022.

There were more than 220,000 flu cases in Australia in 2022 and 308 deaths, both the highest figures since 2019 after Covid-19 restrictions drove cases down in 2020 and 2021.
In 2022, more than half of the patients admitted to hospitals for treatment were under the age of 16.
Although COVID-19 restrictions reduced occurrences in 2020 and 2021, 2022 had more than 220,000 flu illnesses and 308 deaths in Australia, the highest numbers since 2019...

[Pathfinder]

'We need to do better': Top doctor's vaccination plea after another child dies from flu

By Tom Livingstone |3 days ago

Parents are being urged to vaccinate their children against influenza B with experts warning the current flu season is yet to peak.

An 11-year-old Queensland girl died tragically after contracting the virus this week, after the flu-related death of a year nine student from the NSW Central Coast last week.

...

https://9now.nine.com.au/today/parents-urged-to-get-kids-vaccinated-after-another-child-dies-from-flu/8e630f99-0b7f-451b-b0e5-5ef3de2f4529

[Mary Wilson]

Posted Fri 14 Jul 2023 at 9:16pm

By Janelle Miles

The deaths of two girls after contracting influenza B have triggered calls for the flu vaccine to be made free for all Australians.

Queensland-based infectious diseases specialist Paul Griffin said doing so would minimise the huge strain of flu cases on hospitals, and potentially save lives.

"What we are seeing, the number of cases, the severity of cases, the burden on our health care system … it really is a decision that should be straight-forward," Dr Griffin said.

"Any barrier we can remove in terms of making the vaccine easier to access or easier to afford, particularly in the context of the cost-of-living situation could only be beneficial.

"Keeping at least a proportion of those people out of hospital would not only make a really big difference to those people but to the hospital system."

Influenza B surge

Flu vaccination is free for Australian children aged under five. ...

...This year, more than 15,000 Queenslanders have already been diagnosed with influenza B and the flu season is only half over. ...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-15/influenza-a-b-c-d-explained-flu-season/102599454

[Mary Wilson]

Free Flu Stab for Every Queenslander

Published Monday, 17 July, 2023 at 03:00 PM

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman

• Queenslanders of all ages will now have access to free influenza vaccinations.
• Pharmacies and GPs will offer vaccinations from 22 July – 31 August throughout the state

The Palaszczuk Government has announced today that all Queenslanders will be offered a free flu vaccination, amid a spike in influenza cases across the state.

Free influenza vaccinations will be available from 22 July to 31 August at GPs and pharmacies across Queensland.

The Palaszczuk Government will cover the cost, which is estimated to cost between $5 - 10 million, for providing the vaccination to all Queenslanders, many of whom do not fall within the federally funded national immunisation program.

Influenza cases this year have reached more than 51,426 cases, compared to last year where 44,438 cases were record for the entire year.
...

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/98238