Australia: Nasty flu season

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1226423010010

Nasty flu season goes viral

By Cortlan Bennett
AAP
July 11, 2012 12:22AM

IF you were hoping to avoid a nasty flu this winter, don't hold your breath.

Experts are warning that the influenza virus has hit Australia especially hard this season and the worst is yet to come.

More than 5000 cases of the potentially deadly H3N2 and type B strains were recorded nationally in June - almost double the number as at the same time last year - with thousands more cases expected to go undiagnosed.

So far this year, 9034 influenza cases have been diagnosed nationwide, with Queensland, NSW and South Australia the worst affected...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Australia: Nasty flu seaseon

Winter flu infects twice as many people as usual
Alison Caldwell reported this story on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 08:12:00

TONY EASTLEY: Australian doctors are warning people to protect themselves against a potentially deadly flu virus which has already killed seven people and put dozens in hospital.

The predominant strain this year is H3N2 which is associated with increased mortality and authorities are concerned that not enough people are being vaccinated against it.

Alison Caldwell reports.

ALISON CALDWELL: We're not even halfway through winter and already 8,000 people have been diagnosed with the flu.
...

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3543235.htm

[tetano]

Re: Australia: Nasty flu seaseon

Influenza warning as cases double

Australia is in the grips of a surge in influenza, with almost twice the number of cases reported so far this year compared with last year.
In June alone, the number of cases was double that for the same month last year, at 5000 cases.
By Wednesday, the total number of diagnosed cases in Australia was almost 9500, with experts predicting the worst was yet to come.
The Influenza Specialist Group reported that more than 5000 of these cases were due to the potentially deadly H3N2 and type B strains.
?When we see high levels of H3N2, which is the predominant strain this season, there is significant impact ? especially in high-risk groups,? said the group?s chair, Dr Alan Hampson.
?Typically, we can expect to...

http://www.australiandoctor.com.au/news/latest-news/influenza-warning-as-cases-double

[tetano]

Re: Australia: Nasty flu seaseon

Published Date: 2012-07-12 17:31:43
Subject: PRO/EDR> Influenza (54): Australia
Archive Number: 20120712.1199434

INFLUENZA (54): AUSTRALIA
*************************
A ProMED-mail post

http://www.promedmail.org

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases

http://www.isid.org

Date: Wed 11 Jul 2012

Source: World News Australia [edited]

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1667868/Deadly-flu-season-hits-Australia-hard

According to the trans-Tasman Influenza Specialist Group (ISG), hospital admissions for flu-like symptoms have more than doubled around the nation. The influenza season is hitting Australia especially hard, with twice the number of diagnosed cases and hospital admissions, according to experts.



Experts are warning that the influenza virus has hit Australia especially hard this season and the worst is yet to come. More than 5000 cases of the potentially deadly H3N2 and type B strains were recorded nationally in June 2012 -- almost double the number as at the same time last year -- with thousands more cases expected to go undiagnosed.



So far this year [2012], 9034 influenza cases have been diagnosed nationwide, with Queensland, New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia the worst affected. Queensland has had 2536 recorded flu cases, NSW 2391 and SA 1715, made worse by the fact that 98 per cent of the southern state's flu cases have been the more serious H3N2 strain.



Other states have also "gone viral," with 979 flu cases recorded in Western Australia, 971 in Victoria, 187 in the Northern Territory, 177 in the ACT and 87 in Tasmania.



ISG chairman Alan Hampson said the fact that the H3N2 strain hadn't been prominent in Australia for several years could increase this season's severity. "When we see high levels of H3N2, which is the predominant strain this season, there is significant impact, especially in high-risk groups," Dr Hampson said. "Typically, we can expect to see more deaths and hospital admissions."



Dr Hampson said children under 9 had been hardest hit, while the elderly were particularly vulnerable if they had not received their flu shots this season. While most people over 65 had been inoculated, only half of at-risk people aged 15-64 had been jabbed. And for those who think they're doing right by going to work with the flu, Dr Hampson has just one word of advice: don't. "Our latest survey revealed 90 per cent of Australians are soldiering on when sick, risking their health and potentially the lives of those around them," he said. "If you have flu symptoms, we strongly advise you stay home from work or social situations to prevent your colleagues, friends and family from catching the virus and to also aid your recovery." So if you're sick, you should be reading this at home.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail from HealthMap alerts

<promed@promedmail.org>

[According to the World Health Organisation the influenza season is largely finished in the temperate countries of the northern hemisphere, and most countries in the northern temperate zone have now stopped weekly reporting. In contrast, the influenza season has commenced in most temperate countries of the southern hemisphere for which there are data. Influenza A(H3N2) viruses were the most commonly reported type/sub-type in recent weeks in the southern hemisphere temperate region in Chile, South Africa, and Australia; however, significant numbers of influenza type B were also reported in South Africa and to a lesser extent, Australia. So far, no new strains have made an appearance, and the currently distributed southern hemisphere vaccine is well-matched with the outbreak strains.

http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20120712.1199434

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Australia: Nasty flu season

Flu numbers set to soar
Kieran Banks | 16th July 2012 6:24 AM



IPSWICH is in the grip of flu season with a spike in patients suffering influenza presenting at West Moreton Health region facilities.

Forty-two cases of influenza were recorded in the week ending July 1 across the district, a significant increase on the average of one case a week between January and May.
...
Queensland Health figures recorded 351 influenza cases in Queensland, up significantly on the pre-flu season average of 32 cases per week from January to early May.
...
"AMA Queensland strongly advises that anyone who is not well should stay at home to minimise the spread of infection,"
...

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2012/07/16/hospitals-flu-surge-flu-numbers-set-to-soar/