NZ: A(H3N2) flu virus warning issued

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10814520

Severe flu virus warning issued
12:08 PM Thursday Jun 21, 2012

A severe flu virus is causing concern in Auckland and South Canterbury, where there have been spikes in the number of doctor consultations for flu-like symptoms.

The influenza strain A(H3N2) - which could cause a surge in hospital admissions and deaths - has been predominant in these two regions, according to data from Environmental Science & Research (ESR).

Latest ESR general practice sentinel surveillance data - for the week ending June 10 - shows a spike in influenza-like-illness consultations in Auckland (40.9 per 100,000) and South Canterbury (51.9 per 100,000).

Although the national consultation rate of 18.4 per 100,000 was considered to be below normal seasonal activity, National Influenza Specialist Group (NISG) spokesperson Dr Lance Jennings said the predominance of the H3N2 virus was still a concern.

Dr Jennings said infections with this virus could be particularly severe for the elderly and those with an ongoing medical condition...

[Roehl_JC]

Re: NZ: A(H3N2) flu virus warning issued

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10821267

New Zealand is facing an influenza epidemic that experts say is as big as swine flu and has already left about 12 people fighting for their lives.

The H3N2 strain of the virus, which causes hallucinations and crippling nausea, is even striking healthy young people.

About 60 flu-stricken people have been admitted to a special isolated ward in Christchurch Hospital, and now public health officials have warned that the virus is spreading north.

Aucklander Lucy Janisch-Fitzgerald was rushed to hospital on Tuesday night and placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit, unable to control her breathing.

The 22-year-old was in a serious condition for three days and was only moved out of the ward on Friday.

Speaking from her hospital bed last night, she told the Herald on Sunday she had been knocked sideways by the flu.

"I crashed," she said. "I couldn't breathe on my own, my heart rate was too high. I've been on IV drips for six days now," Janisch-Fitzgerald said.

She is believed to be one of the first in Auckland struck down by the same severe strain of flu that is causing havoc in Christchurch, according to Canterbury Health virologist Lance Jennings.

Canterbury has been the worst hit so far by the "epidemic" of the H3N2 strain, which is expected to be as severe in New Zealand as the H1N1 swine flu that killed 49 people in 2009.

"With H3N2 ... we tend to see more severe outcomes in terms of hospital admissions, admissions to intensive care and death," Jennings said....

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Public Health Surveillance's national report shows a steep increase in flu cases last week, almost double the number at the same time last year.

Humphrey said: "This year we are up [on flu cases] pretty much as high as we were during the swine flu epidemic. It's a serious illness. It's not something that should be ignored."

What is H3N2
* H3N2 is an A-type virus.
* It descended from a virus that originated as a pandemic in Hong Kong in 1968.
* Canterbury Health virologist Dr Lance Jennings says H3N2 circulates through a population until the level of immunity has built up.
* Symptoms include hallucinations, crippling fevers and nausea.
* Once there is resilience in the population, H3N2 mutates so that it is more infective.

- APNZ / Herald on Sunday