Flu season continues its spread North West, with health officials saying it is not too late to get vaccinated.
Queensland Health has declared this the worst influenza outbreak in the last five years, with warnings the season may not peak for another week.
Total influenza notifications for 2017 for the North West are 193 cases, 180 of those in the last four weeks. To date there have been 39 hospitalisations of influenza patients.
Associate Professor Alan Sanford, Executive Director of Medical Services at the North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS), said the flu has hit staff hard, too.
“They get exposed when our patients come in, and we’ve seen very significant increased numbers in our Emergency Department, a number of whom have come in with flu, or flu-like illnesses.”
“We are probably seeing a slight delay with the staff coming down ill, but there is quite a large number of nursing staff, and some medical staff that have become ill,” Professor Sanford said.
The NWHHS Board met on Friday and emphasised the need for strong vaccination campaigning, Professor Sanford said.
“We had a long discussion about the importance of ensuring that vaccination is widely publicised and encouraged and supported, and that the public as well as all of our staff avail themselves of the opportunity for influenza vaccination, not just here in Mount Isa, but also the remote sites as well,” he said.
While flu-like symptoms do not always mean influenza, the Health Service has had a number of positive tests for influenza A, which is the strain responsible for the true flu.
It is still not too late for people to have a flu vaccination this year, and those eligible for the government-funded influenza vaccine can access it from their doctor or immunisation provider.
All others can purchase the vaccine from their doctor, immunisation provider or pharmacist.
The best advice is to consult your GP if you have flu-like symptoms, or if you or your family are particularly unwell and you are concerned or not sure what to do, call one of the registered nurses at 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) any time for advice.
