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Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/14286782/flu-outbreak-kills-10/
Flu outbreak kills 10
Cathy O'Leary Medical Editor, The West Australian Updated July 21, 2012, 2:30 am
Authorities are bracing for a new surge in the flu as children return to school this week, with 10 confirmed deaths already this season, including a child aged under five.
At a meeting with Health Minister Kim Hames this week, doctors called on him to consider new anti-flu measures such as supplying hand sanitisers in schools to reduce infection spreading.
They also want him to authorise the mass release of anti-viral medication for flu patients at high risk of complications. And they believe sick people should be encouraged to use face masks when they have to be around others.
By yesterday, the Australian Medical Association claimed the Government was not moving quickly enough as the focus of health advice became less about vaccination - as time ran out for people to protect themselves this winter - and more about stopping further infection spreading.
The Health Department said the 10 deaths, including a young child and two young adults, compared with 22 flu deaths during all of last year and 15 deaths in 2010.
Two of the deaths were reported as recently as yesterday.
Laboratory-confirmed cases, which are an indicator of wider flu activity in the community, have hit 1638 so far this year, compared with 1887 cases for all of last year...
Flu outbreak kills 10
Cathy O'Leary Medical Editor, The West Australian Updated July 21, 2012, 2:30 am
Authorities are bracing for a new surge in the flu as children return to school this week, with 10 confirmed deaths already this season, including a child aged under five.
At a meeting with Health Minister Kim Hames this week, doctors called on him to consider new anti-flu measures such as supplying hand sanitisers in schools to reduce infection spreading.
They also want him to authorise the mass release of anti-viral medication for flu patients at high risk of complications. And they believe sick people should be encouraged to use face masks when they have to be around others.
By yesterday, the Australian Medical Association claimed the Government was not moving quickly enough as the focus of health advice became less about vaccination - as time ran out for people to protect themselves this winter - and more about stopping further infection spreading.
The Health Department said the 10 deaths, including a young child and two young adults, compared with 22 flu deaths during all of last year and 15 deaths in 2010.
Two of the deaths were reported as recently as yesterday.
Laboratory-confirmed cases, which are an indicator of wider flu activity in the community, have hit 1638 so far this year, compared with 1887 cases for all of last year...