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The influenza virus is on the rise around the country and the Central North Island could be next.
The latest report by Environmental Science and Research shows nationally 58 people per 100,000 have been diagnosed with influenza - which indicates normal seasonal influenza activity.
But the consultation rate has almost doubled in the past month. Figures for the Bay of Plenty District Health Board were one of the worst in the country with 184.3 consultations per 100,000.
No figures were available for the Lakes District Health Board but Toi Te Ora's medical officer of health, Dr Neil de Wet, said it was only a matter of time before the virus broke out in the region.
"There's been no significant activity reported in the Lakes area but it has started to pick up in other areas of the Bay of Plenty and Waikato, so it's only a matter of time before it reaches here."
He said it was normal for the number of influenza cases to begin to rise at this time of year. Last year The Daily Post reported the flu had hit the city hard with 200 students absent from one high school in one day. It took up to two weeks to develop full protection after vaccination and Dr de Wet said people who had not had the flu vaccination should do so.
He said people shouldn't worry they would get influenza as a result of the vaccination.
"It's a total myth, it can't give you the flu."
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The latest report by Environmental Science and Research shows nationally 58 people per 100,000 have been diagnosed with influenza - which indicates normal seasonal influenza activity.
But the consultation rate has almost doubled in the past month. Figures for the Bay of Plenty District Health Board were one of the worst in the country with 184.3 consultations per 100,000.
No figures were available for the Lakes District Health Board but Toi Te Ora's medical officer of health, Dr Neil de Wet, said it was only a matter of time before the virus broke out in the region.
"There's been no significant activity reported in the Lakes area but it has started to pick up in other areas of the Bay of Plenty and Waikato, so it's only a matter of time before it reaches here."
He said it was normal for the number of influenza cases to begin to rise at this time of year. Last year The Daily Post reported the flu had hit the city hard with 200 students absent from one high school in one day. It took up to two weeks to develop full protection after vaccination and Dr de Wet said people who had not had the flu vaccination should do so.
He said people shouldn't worry they would get influenza as a result of the vaccination.
"It's a total myth, it can't give you the flu."
..
