Gold Coast influenza cases staggering drop

A staggering drop in cases of the flu has been reported on the Gold Coast as locals flock to get vaccinated.

INFLUENZA cases have “fallen off a cliff” across the Gold Coast, but health authorities are warning against complacency.

The latest health figures reveal 704 cases of the flu were reported until May this year, 435 fewer than the 1139 at the same time last year. The number of whooping cough (pertussis) cases is down 32, from 85 to 53.

Dr Vicki Slinko, from the Gold Coast Public Health Unit, said the new figures were good news for the city.

“The flu numbers are really down and it seems Gold Coasters have done well with physical distancing, hygiene measures and getting the flu shot,” she said.

A lack of flu cases has been reported across the Gold Coast amid coronavirus pandemic.

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“Flu stats have just nosedived, fallen off a cliff and are bouncing along the floorboards of the graph. We’ve done really with the flu so far. However, this is the time of year when numbers start to go up and you can never predict how bad a flu year will be.”

Dr Roger Halliwell, a general practitioner on the Gold Coast for 25 years, said he’s “never seen anything like it in my life”.

“Every year we see an increasing amount of people with the flu and some end up in hospital and some don’t survive it,” he said.

“If a person gets influenza and coronavirus, it’s a perfect storm, and from what we’ve seen overseas we believe it’s a very nasty combination.

Dr Roger Halliwell is the board chairman of the Gold Coast Primary Health Network and says he’s never seen such low flu numbers in his 25 year history as a GP. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I know that people don’t like staying at home and have quite an appetite for returning to normal, but it’s crucial we all work hard to stop the spread of sickness across the Gold Coast.”

Haan Health owner and GP Sonu Haikerwal confirmed fewer cases of flu were being detected at her clinics, but there’d be an increase in rhinovirus detections. Rhinovirus infections cause the common cold and may also cause some sore throats, ear infections and infections of the sinuses.

“Flu shot uptake has been higher this year and in combination with hand hygiene, this has helped in regards to a reduction in the flu. But we need to keep our vigilance, particularly going into winter.”

Across Australia more than 7.3 million vaccines have been administer, up from 4.5 million in the same period last year.