Five people die with the flu as more than 4000 cases recorded

In the three months since flu season began, five people have died and hundreds have been hospitalised due to infection. SEE HOW IT COMPARES TO PREVIOUS YEARS

FIVE people have died with the flu in the Territory so far this year, according to NT Health.

The number of deaths has almost reached pre-pandemic levels, with eight flu fatalities in 2018 and six in 2019.

In 2020, two people died with the flu while in 2021 there were zero deaths.

The Australian Influenza Surveillance Report says across Australia, there have been 54 deaths associated with the illness in 2022.

This week the NT recorded the 53rd death due to Covid since the pandemic began.

It comes as 545 new infections were recorded in the last week to ­Friday, taking the total number of cases to 4351 in 2022.

There are 13 people currently in hospital as the total number of ­hospitalisations climbs to 708.

This includes one person in ICU.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT branch secretary Cath Hatcher said Royal Darwin Hospital staff were run off their feet as they battled the record numbers.

“It’s very busy all over with flu cases also the number of staff out of action with the flu,” she said.

Ms Hatcher said the high infection rate had affected nurses and staff shortages were now taking their toll.

“You’ve got staff doing above their allocated hours per week and they still haven’t caught up from the busyness of Covid and now you’ve got the flu component on top of that.

“They’re fatigued and tired and they’re picking up everything,” Ms Hatcher said.

“If we had adequate staffing it wouldn’t be so bad and we don’t – take even one person per shift off because they’ve got the flu and we’re under extreme pressure,” she said.

This week experts called for access to a free flu vaccine for all Territorians, with 60,600 residents having had the jab.

A total 2461 cases have been recorded in the Top End region, 671 in Central Australia, 448 in East Arnhem, 332 in the Big Rivers region, 304 in the Barkly region, 129 from interstate and six are under investigation.