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Thirty-one Victorians died of flu in 2019, the number of confirmed cases being nine times higher than at the same time last year.
Influenza has been diagnosed in more than 18,600 people since the beginning of the season late last year, several months earlier than usual, prompting the Victoria Health Minister to urge people to get vaccinated and stay at home if they were sick.
"Unfortunately, 31 influenza-related deaths have been confirmed this year, with the vast majority of these seniors living in retirement homes," Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told reporters on Monday.
"Unfortunately, three of these deaths occurred in children."
Ms. Mikakos confirmed that the three children, ages 3 to 11, had died on May 21. At that time, 10,683 cases of confirmed influenza and 26 deaths had been reported.
In the weeks that followed, with the arrival of winter, more and more people are diagnosed.
"The latest data shows us that we have 18,644 confirmed cases of influenza this year, nine times more than at the same time last year," Ms. Mikakos said.
"So we have seen a huge increase in the number of influenza cases in recent weeks."
Ms. Mikakos urged people to stay home when they are sick and to avoid taking sick children to daycare or school.
"That's how the flu spreads in the community," she warned.
"It's really important that people consider these simple precautions."
Australian Associated Press
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