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Authorities warn of double flu threat
By Danny Rose, AAP March 29, 2010, 5:49 pm
AAP ? Enlarge photo
Health authorities are warning of a double whammy flu threat this year, with both the swine flu and more conventional strains in wide circulation.
Dr Alan Hampson, chair of the Influenza Specialist Group and consultant to the World Health Organisation, said new cases of swine flu were now emerging in Australia after a lull over summer.
Over the second half of last year, the (H1N1) swine flu was most serious in those aged under 65, along with pregnant women and the chronically ill.
Dr Hampson said Australia was "highly unlikely" to avoid a return of widespread swine flu infection this winter.
And it was likely to be joined by another flu strain.
"We don't expect the flu season to be only swine influenza this year," Dr
Hampson told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
"There is a 'A
erth' strain out there ... that has its greatest impact in older people."
"Swine flu, as you've seen last year, has its greatest impact on young people.
"We may well have a season where we've got two viruses affecting largely different groups of the population."
...
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/6996240/authorities-warn-of-double-flu-threat/
By Danny Rose, AAP March 29, 2010, 5:49 pm
AAP ? Enlarge photoHealth authorities are warning of a double whammy flu threat this year, with both the swine flu and more conventional strains in wide circulation.
Dr Alan Hampson, chair of the Influenza Specialist Group and consultant to the World Health Organisation, said new cases of swine flu were now emerging in Australia after a lull over summer.
Over the second half of last year, the (H1N1) swine flu was most serious in those aged under 65, along with pregnant women and the chronically ill.
Dr Hampson said Australia was "highly unlikely" to avoid a return of widespread swine flu infection this winter.
And it was likely to be joined by another flu strain.
"We don't expect the flu season to be only swine influenza this year," Dr
Hampson told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
"There is a 'A
erth' strain out there ... that has its greatest impact in older people.""Swine flu, as you've seen last year, has its greatest impact on young people.
"We may well have a season where we've got two viruses affecting largely different groups of the population."
...
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/6996240/authorities-warn-of-double-flu-threat/
