kiwibird
Editor, Senior Moderator
Flu consultations double
NZPA June 22, 2009, 8:33 pm
The weekly consultation rate for patients with flu-like illnesses going to their doctor has more than doubled over the past week.
Flu virus surveillance by Environmental Science and Research shows a national average weekly consultation rate of 56.1 for each 100,000 patients -- more than twice last week's rate of 27.
One third of the way through the usual winter surge of seasonal flu, Gisborne had the highest consultation rate at 261.1 per 100,000 patients, followed by the Eastern Bay of Plenty (203.5) and Rotorua (180.5).
The two-part surveillance system relies on a voluntary network of doctors' practices -- about one for each 50,000 patients -- sending in reports and samples for the 20-week flu season that runs from May to September. It also uses data from hospital laboratories which analyse patient samples.
The national level of consultation is considered to be normal seasonal activity when the rate ranges between 50-249 consultations per 100,000 patient population. A rate of 50 to 99 is low, 100-149 moderate, and 250-249 high. When consultation hits 250-399, the activity is higher than expected, and 400 indicates an epidemic level of disease.
The Ministry of Health has predicted that because most people have little or no immunity to the novel influenza A (H1N1) swine flu, up to a third of the population could catch it.
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/5671511
NZPA June 22, 2009, 8:33 pm
The weekly consultation rate for patients with flu-like illnesses going to their doctor has more than doubled over the past week.
Flu virus surveillance by Environmental Science and Research shows a national average weekly consultation rate of 56.1 for each 100,000 patients -- more than twice last week's rate of 27.
One third of the way through the usual winter surge of seasonal flu, Gisborne had the highest consultation rate at 261.1 per 100,000 patients, followed by the Eastern Bay of Plenty (203.5) and Rotorua (180.5).
The two-part surveillance system relies on a voluntary network of doctors' practices -- about one for each 50,000 patients -- sending in reports and samples for the 20-week flu season that runs from May to September. It also uses data from hospital laboratories which analyse patient samples.
The national level of consultation is considered to be normal seasonal activity when the rate ranges between 50-249 consultations per 100,000 patient population. A rate of 50 to 99 is low, 100-149 moderate, and 250-249 high. When consultation hits 250-399, the activity is higher than expected, and 400 indicates an epidemic level of disease.
The Ministry of Health has predicted that because most people have little or no immunity to the novel influenza A (H1N1) swine flu, up to a third of the population could catch it.
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/5671511
