Spike in flu cases prompts urgent health warning for seniors, kids
- Replies 13
As the leaves turn and the air chills, Australians are bracing for what health authorities are predicting to be an 'early and severe' flu season.
With a staggering 24,019 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza already reported this year, the nation is witnessing a 29 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the latest Department of Health figures.
But these numbers may only be the tip of the iceberg, as countless cases often go unreported.
Immunisation Coalition's chief executive Dr Andrew Minton has expressed concern over the recent statistics, which have prompted health experts to warn the public to get vaccinated soonest.
'Population immunity is still on the mend post-pandemic, yet influenza infection rates remain alarmingly high and pose a serious threat,' he warned.
‘Children and high-risk populations, particularly the elderly, are most at risk.’
As Australians retreat indoors to escape the cooler weather, the stage is set for the flu virus to spread like wildfire.
The winter and early spring months, particularly July and August, have traditionally seen the highest flu activity.
However, since 2022, the pattern has shifted, with the flu season commencing as early as April and reaching its peak by June.
The summer months have not provided the usual respite either. Influenza cases have soared, often tripling the numbers seen before the pandemic, largely due to travellers returning from the northern hemisphere with the virus in tow.
The groups most susceptible to hospitalisation or worse from influenza include very young children, the elderly, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and individuals with underlying health conditions.
The flu vaccine is provided free of charge to these groups.
Influenza vaccines can also now be administered concurrently with other vaccines, including COVID-19 shots. This change comes after the removal of the previous recommendation to wait two weeks between different vaccinations.
While many are encouraged to get immunised at the earliest chance, others have chosen to issue warnings after unfortunate bouts with influenza.
A mum named Carly shared her family’s experience with the highly infectious disease, which she thinks could have been avoided had she not gotten ‘so busy’ and forgotten to have her family immunised against flu.
‘My daughter fell extremely ill for 10 days, and after awful ongoing symptoms of vomiting, fevers and headaches I had to rush her to hospital, where they kept her for testing,’ she said.
‘It completely wiped her out for a week [and] sadly, because she was so rundown, she then contracted Influenza B and gastro a few months later.’
‘The whole time I was watching my poor daughter go through this, I thought to myself "What if I had remembered to have her vaccinated?”’ she admitted.
Source: YouTube / 9News Australia
In hindsight, she came to a realisation.
‘I do believe having my daughter vaccinated would have really reduced the severity,’ she said.
‘My advice would be to be mindful and aware that the flu is definitely around, and that the vaccine can really reduce the severity or avoid it altogether and will help to protect your family.’
On the topic of health warnings, members, there's another illness you should know about. Find out more here!
We encourage our readers to share their experiences and tips for staying healthy during flu season in the comments below. Have you gotten your flu shot yet? How are you preparing for the colder months?
With a staggering 24,019 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza already reported this year, the nation is witnessing a 29 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the latest Department of Health figures.
But these numbers may only be the tip of the iceberg, as countless cases often go unreported.
Immunisation Coalition's chief executive Dr Andrew Minton has expressed concern over the recent statistics, which have prompted health experts to warn the public to get vaccinated soonest.
'Population immunity is still on the mend post-pandemic, yet influenza infection rates remain alarmingly high and pose a serious threat,' he warned.
‘Children and high-risk populations, particularly the elderly, are most at risk.’
Over nine million people were vaccinated against influenza from March-October 2023, according to Department of Health and Aged Care data. Image Credit: Shutterstock / Christie Cooper
As Australians retreat indoors to escape the cooler weather, the stage is set for the flu virus to spread like wildfire.
The winter and early spring months, particularly July and August, have traditionally seen the highest flu activity.
However, since 2022, the pattern has shifted, with the flu season commencing as early as April and reaching its peak by June.
The summer months have not provided the usual respite either. Influenza cases have soared, often tripling the numbers seen before the pandemic, largely due to travellers returning from the northern hemisphere with the virus in tow.
The flu vaccine is provided free of charge to these groups.
Influenza vaccines can also now be administered concurrently with other vaccines, including COVID-19 shots. This change comes after the removal of the previous recommendation to wait two weeks between different vaccinations.
While many are encouraged to get immunised at the earliest chance, others have chosen to issue warnings after unfortunate bouts with influenza.
A mum named Carly shared her family’s experience with the highly infectious disease, which she thinks could have been avoided had she not gotten ‘so busy’ and forgotten to have her family immunised against flu.
‘My daughter fell extremely ill for 10 days, and after awful ongoing symptoms of vomiting, fevers and headaches I had to rush her to hospital, where they kept her for testing,’ she said.
‘It completely wiped her out for a week [and] sadly, because she was so rundown, she then contracted Influenza B and gastro a few months later.’
‘The whole time I was watching my poor daughter go through this, I thought to myself "What if I had remembered to have her vaccinated?”’ she admitted.
Source: YouTube / 9News Australia
In hindsight, she came to a realisation.
‘I do believe having my daughter vaccinated would have really reduced the severity,’ she said.
‘My advice would be to be mindful and aware that the flu is definitely around, and that the vaccine can really reduce the severity or avoid it altogether and will help to protect your family.’
We encourage our readers to share their experiences and tips for staying healthy during flu season in the comments below. Have you gotten your flu shot yet? How are you preparing for the colder months?
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just a thought but stay safe.
