tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
So far five people in the region have been confirmed as having swine flu, the main flu strain this year, but none needed a stay in hospital.
But there's been a rise in reports of flu-like illnesses over the past 10 days.
Hawke's Bay Hospital emergency response adviser Sandra Bee said the district health board and GP practices were "well prepared for what looked like a late start to the flu season".
Across the country, 158 people had been admitted to hospital with flu-like symptoms at the end of July, with 59 people in the past week alone.
In the Wairarapa, some schools reported that about half their students were away with a highly contagious virus thought to be swine flu.
Schools in Hawke's Bay said they weren't yet seeing an increase in the usual winter coughs and colds, but were urging parents to keep sick children home to prevent illnesses spreading.
Napier Boys' High School headmaster Ross Brown said absences were lower than last year,
"but that can change pretty quickly in the space of three or four days".
Napier Central Primary School said the number of children with stomach bugs and flu-like symptoms was starting to climb.
Hawke's Bay is unlikely to be hit as hard by swine flu, or H1N1, this season, after being among the worst-affected regions last year.
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Director of Public Health Dr Mark Jacobs said areas which had higher rates of hospital treatment last year were likely to have less cases this year, as more people had been exposed to the virus. He said there was still time to be vaccinated.
More people have already been immunised in the Bay this year, up from 36,400 last year to more than 43,000 people.
"Health professionals also can't emphasise enough the importance of basic common sense precautions like regular handwashing and drying, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick."
Symptoms of swine flu can take up to four days to appear and are similar to the regular flu.
Hawke's Bay District Health Board says that people with flu-like symptoms should phone their doctor or Healthline for medical advice rather than going to a clinic or hospital and risk spreading the virus.
Seeking early medical advice is especially important for pregnant women, severely overweight people and those with underlying medical conditions.
http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/local/news/authorities-on-alert-for-swine-flu/3918650/
But there's been a rise in reports of flu-like illnesses over the past 10 days.
Hawke's Bay Hospital emergency response adviser Sandra Bee said the district health board and GP practices were "well prepared for what looked like a late start to the flu season".
Across the country, 158 people had been admitted to hospital with flu-like symptoms at the end of July, with 59 people in the past week alone.
In the Wairarapa, some schools reported that about half their students were away with a highly contagious virus thought to be swine flu.
Schools in Hawke's Bay said they weren't yet seeing an increase in the usual winter coughs and colds, but were urging parents to keep sick children home to prevent illnesses spreading.
Napier Boys' High School headmaster Ross Brown said absences were lower than last year,
"but that can change pretty quickly in the space of three or four days".
Napier Central Primary School said the number of children with stomach bugs and flu-like symptoms was starting to climb.
Hawke's Bay is unlikely to be hit as hard by swine flu, or H1N1, this season, after being among the worst-affected regions last year.
Advertisement
Director of Public Health Dr Mark Jacobs said areas which had higher rates of hospital treatment last year were likely to have less cases this year, as more people had been exposed to the virus. He said there was still time to be vaccinated.
More people have already been immunised in the Bay this year, up from 36,400 last year to more than 43,000 people.
"Health professionals also can't emphasise enough the importance of basic common sense precautions like regular handwashing and drying, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick."
Symptoms of swine flu can take up to four days to appear and are similar to the regular flu.
Hawke's Bay District Health Board says that people with flu-like symptoms should phone their doctor or Healthline for medical advice rather than going to a clinic or hospital and risk spreading the virus.
Seeking early medical advice is especially important for pregnant women, severely overweight people and those with underlying medical conditions.
http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/local/news/authorities-on-alert-for-swine-flu/3918650/