Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2014/08/12/flu-cases-double--increase-to-21-000.html
Flu cases double, increase to 21,000
Published: 5:25 am, Tuesday, 12 August 2014
...As of August 11, there have been 20,979 cases of laboratory confirmed influenza reported, according to the Department of Health and Ageing Influenza Surveillance Report and Activity Updates.
The majority of notifications have been in Queensland with 5959 cases.
NSW has had 5375 cases, Victoria 2473, SA 1797, WA 1722, NT 331, ACT 284 and Tasmania has had 197 people test positive for the flu.
ISG chairman Dr Alan Hampson said one of the reasons Queensland has the highest number of cases may be because they test more.
'Queensland tends to test more than the other states so that might be a reason for higher numbers, and a warmer climate doesn't protect people from flu,' said Dr Hampson.
He said people tend to think of the flu as an illness that has its worst impact on the elderly.
But he noted the median age of patients admitted to hospital for the flu is 42 years...
Flu cases double, increase to 21,000
Published: 5:25 am, Tuesday, 12 August 2014
...As of August 11, there have been 20,979 cases of laboratory confirmed influenza reported, according to the Department of Health and Ageing Influenza Surveillance Report and Activity Updates.
The majority of notifications have been in Queensland with 5959 cases.
NSW has had 5375 cases, Victoria 2473, SA 1797, WA 1722, NT 331, ACT 284 and Tasmania has had 197 people test positive for the flu.
ISG chairman Dr Alan Hampson said one of the reasons Queensland has the highest number of cases may be because they test more.
'Queensland tends to test more than the other states so that might be a reason for higher numbers, and a warmer climate doesn't protect people from flu,' said Dr Hampson.
He said people tend to think of the flu as an illness that has its worst impact on the elderly.
But he noted the median age of patients admitted to hospital for the flu is 42 years...