Mackay HHS says low natural immunity makes the flu a dangerous threat in 2022

Covid-19 has dominated over the past two years but figures for some other illnesses have also risen. It comes amid a warning the flu season could be particularly dangerous this year. Find out why.

The influenza virus is a “serious” threat and low natural immunity after two years of Covid isolation means Mackay residents could be on the brink of a destructive flu season.

“The true influenza virus is highly contagious and causes potentially serious disease,” Mackay Public Health Unit’s Dr Steven Donohue said.

“It is spread mainly through coughing and sneezing.

“It is possible to get influenza at any time of the year in north Queensland.”

The warning comes after data on notifiable diseases from Mackay HHS shows an absence of influenza cases.

Mackay HHS recorded 345 flu cases between January 1 to April 3, 2019.

In 2020, the figure was 168 and in 2021, the figure dropped to just two.

There has been no lab confirmed cases of flu in 2022.

Dr Steven Donohue says the flu can be a “serious disease” and recommends Mackay residents get vaccinated for it. Picture: Supplied.

“Few Australians have been exposed to influenza over the past two years and have not had the opportunity to boost their natural immunity,” Public Health Physician Dr Donohue explained.

“Covid safe behaviours such as social distancing, mask wearing, hand hygiene and restricted interstate and international travel have all helped keep numbers low.

“It is entirely possible that we will see many serious infections this year once the number of cases starts to rise.

“Most people will have low immunity to the flu this year so it’s important to get your vaccination when they are available.

“The vaccine is free for high-risk groups including children from six months to five years, pregnant women, Indigenous families and the elderly or chronically ill.

“Being vaccinated gives you the single best protection against influenza by building immunity to the virus and helping to prevent transmission of the virus to other people.

“Each year the influenza vaccine is formulated to cover the circulating strains, providing the best protection against current types of flu.”

What to do about mosquitoes

Dr Donohue says an uptick in Ross River virus cases is not “epidemiologically significant”.

In 2021, there were 11 cases of Ross River between January 1 to April 3.

This year, Mackay HHS has recorded 29 cases.

“There can be a rise in cases every few years and while we may have more numbers than usual, the increase is not big enough to cause concern,” Dr Donohue said.

“The cases in Mackay HHS are spread around Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac and are not clustered in one area.”

Dr Donohue said infected mosquitoes spread the Ross River virus which could cause prolonged arthritis.

“I would strongly urge people to take steps to avoid being bitten as the joint pain from Ross River can last for months and be quite disabling,” he said.

“The best precaution for other mosquito-borne diseases, such as ross river fever, Barmah Forrest, and rare cases of encephalitis, is to take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

“There are simple things people can do to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes including: using effective mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves, light coloured clothing, burning mosquito coils or citronella candles in outdoor areas, closing screen doors and eliminating possible mosquito breeding sites from around the home.”

The re-emergence of the deadly Japanese encephalitis disease in Queensland, another mosquito-borne illness, has captured media attention, but Dr Donohue said no cases had been detected so far this year in Mackay.

“The chance of a case is small,” he said.

“Most people who catch JEV have no symptoms or mild symptoms such as headache or fever.

“Less than 1 per cent of people with the infection go on to develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).”

The view from the bedroom

While the Covid era has recorded a marked decrease in influenza cases, Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia cases have remained stable or increased.

In 2019, Mackay HHS recorded 839 cases of Chlamydia across the year.

In the Covid years of 2020 and 2021, case numbers were 894 and 884, respectively.

Gonorrhoea also remained stable and prevalent throughout the community.

In 2019, Mackay HHS recorded 170 cases.

In 2020 and 2021, the health service recorded 226 and 202 cases, respectively.

The year-to-date figures for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea also suggest the numbers for 2022 will remain comparable to the figures of the past few years.

Originally published as Mackay HHS says low natural immunity makes the flu a dangerous threat in 2022