tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
A second wave of the swine flu pandemic sweeping the country is gaining momentum and is yet to peak.
Despite the World Health Organisation declaring the world to be in a post-pandemic phase, that's not the case in New Zealand.
Some schools are reporting record absences, businesses such as hairdressers and dentists are experiencing more than usual the number of appointment cancellations, and hospitals are having higher than normal admissions, though other areas have so far been relatively untouched by the virus.
Director of public health Mark Jacobs said the uneven spread was not surprising given the prevalence of the virus last year.
"It's pretty patchy as it washes through different regions. Schools that were not hit hard last year are finding it's a different story this year."
The Wairarapa, Seddon and parts of the Waikato had been badly affected but areas such as Wellington and Gisborne were not.
At Matamata's Firth Primary School last week, seven of the school's 12 teachers and almost 20% of the pupils succumbed to the flu, while in Wairarapa, half the area's schools or training facilities had 15% or more of pupils off sick. Waikato Hospital also took the unusual step of writing to schools and child care centres informing them about the high number of viruses circulating in the community.
Jacobs said with winter viral diseases prevalent at the moment, it was inevitable children would get sick.
"Kids are the best spreaders of the flu, partly because if they haven't had it before they will catch it and partly because washing their hands thoroughly is not always the first thing on their minds," Jacobs said.
He warned that although there were "a whole lot of different regional waves of infection" it all added up to the second wave yet to peak. "In some parts of the North Island in particular it hasn't happened yet, but it will happen."
Jacobs said the good news was that by this time next year swine flu was likely to be just another seasonal flu strain. So far this year two deaths have been confirmed as being due to swine flu and about four others have been referred to the coroner for confirmation.
Vaccination against swine flu is still available and recommended for pregnant women or people with underlying health conditions.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4025674/Swine-flu-wave-yet-to-peak
Despite the World Health Organisation declaring the world to be in a post-pandemic phase, that's not the case in New Zealand.
Some schools are reporting record absences, businesses such as hairdressers and dentists are experiencing more than usual the number of appointment cancellations, and hospitals are having higher than normal admissions, though other areas have so far been relatively untouched by the virus.
Director of public health Mark Jacobs said the uneven spread was not surprising given the prevalence of the virus last year.
"It's pretty patchy as it washes through different regions. Schools that were not hit hard last year are finding it's a different story this year."
The Wairarapa, Seddon and parts of the Waikato had been badly affected but areas such as Wellington and Gisborne were not.
At Matamata's Firth Primary School last week, seven of the school's 12 teachers and almost 20% of the pupils succumbed to the flu, while in Wairarapa, half the area's schools or training facilities had 15% or more of pupils off sick. Waikato Hospital also took the unusual step of writing to schools and child care centres informing them about the high number of viruses circulating in the community.
Jacobs said with winter viral diseases prevalent at the moment, it was inevitable children would get sick.
"Kids are the best spreaders of the flu, partly because if they haven't had it before they will catch it and partly because washing their hands thoroughly is not always the first thing on their minds," Jacobs said.
He warned that although there were "a whole lot of different regional waves of infection" it all added up to the second wave yet to peak. "In some parts of the North Island in particular it hasn't happened yet, but it will happen."
Jacobs said the good news was that by this time next year swine flu was likely to be just another seasonal flu strain. So far this year two deaths have been confirmed as being due to swine flu and about four others have been referred to the coroner for confirmation.
Vaccination against swine flu is still available and recommended for pregnant women or people with underlying health conditions.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4025674/Swine-flu-wave-yet-to-peak