Peak flu season arrives and they’re triple the 2016 statistics

IF FLU cases continue rising as they have the last two months, August will be devastating.

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If flu cases continue rising, August will be devastating.

Flu cases across the state have tripled for the last two months. If that staggering figure continues, the new flu cases reported will be more than the entire flu cases for all of 2016.

Health experts warned last month through the media July, August and September were typical peak times for people contracting the flu.

Increases in emergency department presentations has been experienced statewide. More than 8000 people presented in the past week, 2000 more than at the same time in 2016.

In the South Western Sydney Local Health District, 1205 people got the flu in July, double last year.

Western Sydney Local Health District had 2627 flu cases in July, 1699 more than last July while Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District recorded 793 cases in July, a jump of 471 on the same month last year.

While Sydney Local Health District continued the upward spiral with 1098 cases in July this year, compared to 480 last year.

NSW Health’s communicable diseases director Vicky Sheppeard said during peak times they encouraged people to see advice from their GP and HealthDirect, a 24-hour helpline.

Symptoms include fever and chills, cough, sore throat and runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches and joint pains, headaches and fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Washing hands, steering clear of sick people and getting vaccinated are the best way to avoid getting the flu.

Getting vaccinated, washing hands and steering clear of sick people are your best bet in avoiding getting the flu.

The spike in cases has spurred NSW Health to renew calls for the elderly and those in high risk groups to take advantage of free flu vaccinations after a spike in outbreaks from aged care facilities.

More than 50 outbreaks in aged care homes have been recorded in the past week, prompting doctors to request family visiting the elderly stay away if they are ill.

Dr Sheppeard said family and friends of the elderly were risking the life of a loved one if they visited with flu symptoms.

“Each year more than 800 people die in NSW from complications associated with influenza and the elderly are particularly vulnerable,” Dr Sheppeard said.

“We are seeing high levels of both influenza A and B strains circulating in the community and older people are more susceptible to severe infection from the influenza A strain that is circulating.”

There have been almost 140 influenza outbreaks in residential aged care facilities this year. Many of those started by unwell visitors.

The increased figures are being accredited to improved technology in the health world.

NSW Health has been able to track and attack the influenza virus. The real-time tracking system means health experts have diagnosed more people with influenza this year. The total is almost 20,000.

NSW FLU CASES

2016

July 4431

August 13,602

2016 as a whole — 35,538

2017

July 11,262

August?

2017 as a whole — 19,843 (to date)