Flu alert issued
MICHAEL OWEN
29jun06
SOUTH Australians have only four days to get a flu shot before a major influenza outbreak strikes the state, health authorities said yesterday.
Doctors are warning of an outbreak of a highly contagious flu strain, which has already hit New Zealand and is expected to arrive in Australia within a fortnight.
It is likely to place extra pressure on already overstretched hospital services.
Rod Pearce, an executive member of the Influenza Specialist Group who also sits on the Australian Medical Association's Federal Council, warned South Australians "everyone is at risk, everyone is prone to getting it".
"If you want to be protected before it hits, the time to get a flu shot is now, otherwise it might be too late for a vaccine to be effective," the Beulah Park GP said.
Dr Pearce said it takes between 10 and 14 days for full immunity to develop.
Health Minister John Hill also warned that "many South Australians will be affected".
Fears of an outbreak in SA comes as New Zealand is struck by the disease.
The federal-funded Influenza Specialist Group said the SA flu season traditionally followed New Zealand by between one and two weeks.
Dr Lance Jennings, a clinical virologist with the Canterbury District Health Board in NZ, yesterday told The Advertiser an influenza outbreak began earlier this month on the North Island and had spread to the South Island.
Chairman of the Health Department's Winter Demand Strategy Group, David Panter, said as of yesterday 99 of the state's 150 extra public hospital beds were open as the health system struggled with increased demand even before the flu season hit.
Latest available figures show that Adelaide's public hospital emergency departments saw 913 patients a day on average last month - 65 more people each day, on average, than last year. Although there had been no reported cases of influenza in SA this winter, Dr Panter was confident the health system could cope in the event of an outbreak.
But the real test will come if the anticipated influenza outbreak turns into a pandemic - something not seen in this state since the early 1990s.
AMA state president Dr Chris Cain yesterday warned SA "was due" for a pandemic.
http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,19622182%255E2682,00.html
_________________
Siam
MICHAEL OWEN
29jun06
SOUTH Australians have only four days to get a flu shot before a major influenza outbreak strikes the state, health authorities said yesterday.
Doctors are warning of an outbreak of a highly contagious flu strain, which has already hit New Zealand and is expected to arrive in Australia within a fortnight.
It is likely to place extra pressure on already overstretched hospital services.
Rod Pearce, an executive member of the Influenza Specialist Group who also sits on the Australian Medical Association's Federal Council, warned South Australians "everyone is at risk, everyone is prone to getting it".
"If you want to be protected before it hits, the time to get a flu shot is now, otherwise it might be too late for a vaccine to be effective," the Beulah Park GP said.
Dr Pearce said it takes between 10 and 14 days for full immunity to develop.
Health Minister John Hill also warned that "many South Australians will be affected".
Fears of an outbreak in SA comes as New Zealand is struck by the disease.
The federal-funded Influenza Specialist Group said the SA flu season traditionally followed New Zealand by between one and two weeks.
Dr Lance Jennings, a clinical virologist with the Canterbury District Health Board in NZ, yesterday told The Advertiser an influenza outbreak began earlier this month on the North Island and had spread to the South Island.
Chairman of the Health Department's Winter Demand Strategy Group, David Panter, said as of yesterday 99 of the state's 150 extra public hospital beds were open as the health system struggled with increased demand even before the flu season hit.
Latest available figures show that Adelaide's public hospital emergency departments saw 913 patients a day on average last month - 65 more people each day, on average, than last year. Although there had been no reported cases of influenza in SA this winter, Dr Panter was confident the health system could cope in the event of an outbreak.
But the real test will come if the anticipated influenza outbreak turns into a pandemic - something not seen in this state since the early 1990s.
AMA state president Dr Chris Cain yesterday warned SA "was due" for a pandemic.
http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,19622182%255E2682,00.html
_________________
Siam
