Commonground
Senior Moderator
Biggest flu outbreak in 10 years: Entire health system under pressure
Flu-related hospitalisations are at a 10-year high in Auckland, with national infection rates at a four-year high and rising.
Health NZ chief executive Dale Bramley earlier said the entire health system was under pressure, with the spike being driven by influenza A along with cases of RSV, cold viruses and some Covid-19 cases.
The chief operating officer of Wakarongorau Aotearoa, which operates Healthline, Brian O'connell, told RNZ's Checkpoint the service was handling about 20% more calls in the past seven days compared to July.
Continued: https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/21/...10-years-entire-health-system-under-pressure/
Flu-related hospitalisations are at a 10-year high in Auckland, with national infection rates at a four-year high and rising.
Health NZ chief executive Dale Bramley earlier said the entire health system was under pressure, with the spike being driven by influenza A along with cases of RSV, cold viruses and some Covid-19 cases.
The chief operating officer of Wakarongorau Aotearoa, which operates Healthline, Brian O'connell, told RNZ's Checkpoint the service was handling about 20% more calls in the past seven days compared to July.
Continued: https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/21/...10-years-entire-health-system-under-pressure/