AU: Flu rate rockets as WA health industry struggles to cope

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa...lth-industry-struggles-to-cope-ng-b881210401z

Flu rate rockets as WA health industry struggles to cope
Regina Titelius and Sue DunlevyPerthNow
May 25, 2019 2:00PM

The number of people struck down by the flu has taken a turn for the worst, with WA doctors and hospitals struggling to cope with a sharp spike in cases.

According to the latest figures from the Department of Health, the rate of flu-like presentations at GP clinics has now increased to more than 10 per 1000 consults.

This is higher than the levels recorded during the peak flu seasons of 2015 and 2018 ? and the official flu season hasn?t yet started.

The rate of flu-like presentations at emergency departments has also spiked in the past two weeks, jumping from 382 cases per 1000 presentations at the start of May to 541 cases per 1000 presentations as of May 19.

The rate of overall flu notifications in WA has also surged, from about 100 a week at the start of May to almost 400 notifications for last week.

WA?s worsening flu season comes as the World Health Organisation influenza centre in Australia warns the number of flu cases across Australia is the highest in 20 years.

Latest figures show there have been more than 51,000 flu cases reported so far this year while at least 85 people have died from the disease...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://thewest.com.au/news/health/killer-virus-stretches-hospitals-to-breaking-point-ng-b881224949z

Killer virus stretches hospitals to breaking point
Josh Zimmerman and Regina TiteliusThe West Australian
Saturday, 8 June 2019 2:00PM

Fifteen people have died and a record 3284 were last month diagnosed with an ?unprecedented? killer flu sweeping WA and stretching emergency departments to breaking limit.

Influenza season traditionally peaks in August and September but its early and brutal arrival this year has caught health authorities off guard.

On Tuesday, a record 383 patients attended Fiona Stanley Hospital emergency department, making it the busiest hospital of its size in the country on that day.

The prevalence of flu-like symptoms has prompted frontline staff to set up a dedicated area for suspected flu patients within the FSH ED to keep them quarantined.

The nearly 5800 West Australians already diagnosed this year is four times more than at the same point last year and places the state on pace to smash the 7851 total confirmed cases in 2016.

Just four people had died of flu by early June last year and if past trends hold ? with fatalities spiking in the second half of the year ? WA will easily surpass the 54 person death toll in 2016.
Health Minister Roger Cook with flu patient Myra Cunningham...