Re: Australia: Nasty flu seaseon
Re: Australia: Nasty flu seaseon
Published Date: 2012-07-12 17:31:43
Subject: PRO/EDR> Influenza (54): Australia
Archive Number: 20120712.1199434
INFLUENZA (54): AUSTRALIA
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Wed 11 Jul 2012
Source: World News Australia [edited]
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1667868/Deadly-flu-season-hits-Australia-hard
According to the trans-Tasman Influenza Specialist Group (ISG), hospital admissions for flu-like symptoms have more than doubled around the nation. The influenza season is hitting Australia especially hard, with twice the number of diagnosed cases and hospital admissions, according to experts.
Experts are warning that the influenza virus has hit Australia especially hard this season and the worst is yet to come. More than 5000 cases of the potentially deadly H3N2 and type B strains were recorded nationally in June 2012 -- almost double the number as at the same time last year -- with thousands more cases expected to go undiagnosed.
So far this year [2012], 9034 influenza cases have been diagnosed nationwide, with Queensland, New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia the worst affected. Queensland has had 2536 recorded flu cases, NSW 2391 and SA 1715, made worse by the fact that 98 per cent of the southern state's flu cases have been the more serious H3N2 strain.
Other states have also "gone viral," with 979 flu cases recorded in Western Australia, 971 in Victoria, 187 in the Northern Territory, 177 in the ACT and 87 in Tasmania.
ISG chairman Alan Hampson said the fact that the H3N2 strain hadn't been prominent in Australia for several years could increase this season's severity. "When we see high levels of H3N2, which is the predominant strain this season, there is significant impact, especially in high-risk groups," Dr Hampson said. "Typically, we can expect to see more deaths and hospital admissions."
Dr Hampson said children under 9 had been hardest hit, while the elderly were particularly vulnerable if they had not received their flu shots this season. While most people over 65 had been inoculated, only half of at-risk people aged 15-64 had been jabbed. And for those who think they're doing right by going to work with the flu, Dr Hampson has just one word of advice: don't. "Our latest survey revealed 90 per cent of Australians are soldiering on when sick, risking their health and potentially the lives of those around them," he said. "If you have flu symptoms, we strongly advise you stay home from work or social situations to prevent your colleagues, friends and family from catching the virus and to also aid your recovery." So if you're sick, you should be reading this at home.
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[According to the World Health Organisation the influenza season is largely finished in the temperate countries of the northern hemisphere, and most countries in the northern temperate zone have now stopped weekly reporting. In contrast, the influenza season has commenced in most temperate countries of the southern hemisphere for which there are data. Influenza A(H3N2) viruses were the most commonly reported type/sub-type in recent weeks in the southern hemisphere temperate region in Chile, South Africa, and Australia; however, significant numbers of influenza type B were also reported in South Africa and to a lesser extent, Australia. So far, no new strains have made an appearance, and the currently distributed southern hemisphere vaccine is well-matched with the outbreak strains.
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