Townsville influenza increase: Public Health Unit urge vaccinations, masks

Townsville health authorities are warning locals to get vaccinated and wear masks in public to combat an increase in influenza cases.

Bronte Clarke, Rylee Hewitt and Jazmin Clarke masked up on The Strand in Townsville in this file photo from 2021. Townsville health authorities on Tuesday warned North Queenslanders to get vaccinated, practise good hygiene and wear masks in public to combat a major spike in lab-confirmed influenza cases. Picture: Supplied

Townsville health authorities are warning locals to get vaccinated and wear masks in public to combat an increase in influenza cases.

According to Queensland Health, there have been 3879 confirmed cases in the year-to-date for 2024, more than double the number of cases in year-to-date mean from 2019 to 2023.

In addition, there were 90 cases of Covid-19 and 43 of Respiratory Syncytial Virus confirmed in the Townsville Health and Hospital region in the week ending November 25, taking total cases in the year-to-date to 2899 and 1827 respectively.

Dr Abiola Olaleye of the THHS Public Health Unit reiterated that the most important way to prevent the spread of the disease that had potentially serious implications for the elderly and those suffering chronic conditions was vaccinations.

“The most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications is by vaccinations,” he said.

“Even if vaccinations don’t prevent the flu entirely it significantly reduces the severity of symptoms so everyone, especially high-risk groups, should get flu shots.”

Dr Abiola Olaleye of the Townsville Health and Hospital Service (THHS) Public Health Unit reiterated that the most important way to prevent the spread of lab-confirmed influenza cases was vaccinations. Picture: Supplied

Dr Olaleye also stressed the importance of “everyday preventative actions”, including frequent hand washing with soap and water, using sanitizers where soap and water was not available and avoiding touching your face.

He said it was also important to talk about people covering their mouths.

“When you are in a crowded or high-risk area, particularly during the flu season, we need to talk about the wearing of masks to wear face masks to avoid that.”

Dr Olaleye also urged people who were feeling sick to stay at home to prevent infecting others, in what he said needed to be a “public responsibility” and “community effort”.

“We need to continue to talk about collective action, the more people who are vaccinated the better the herd immunity … everyone should, especially people at risk, get vaccinated.”

He said that even if people had been infected this year, they should still get vaccinated.

“There are multiple strains that circulate each season so vaccination is important.”

Dr Olaleye said not only were vaccinations effective but they were safe.

“Vaccinations are the best defence against influenza, practise good hygiene, stay at home when unwell and let’s work together to protect our community … this is very important.”

Originally published as Townsville influenza increase: Public Health Unit urge vaccinations, masks