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Influenza season begins early: seven people have already died from the flu during the worst epidemic in eight years
- 144 residents were affected by 13 outbreaks and 14 people were hospitalized
- It is partly driven by travelers returning from the northern hemisphere
- Australians are warned not to visit retirement homes with a cough or runny nose
- Influenza laboratories confirmed 2,244 cases, almost double last year
By Alana Mazzoni for Daily Mail Australia
published: 6:24 pm EDT, March 18, 2019 | Update: 6:24 pm EDT, March 18, 2019
Australians have been warned to prepare for a deadly flu season, with the number of registered cases double that recorded last year.
In Sydney, seven people have already died – the worst number of deaths from influenza in eight years since the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.
New figures released by New South Wales Health reveal an outbreak of influenza A cases, following the low number of influenza cases last year.
This outbreak is partly caused by the return of travelers from the northern hemisphere to Australia.
Seven people in Sydney have already died, while new health figures in New South Wales show a peak in most cases, mostly influenza A (photo of record)
Eight epidemics have already occurred in nursing homes in February and four more have broken out in hospitals.
Health professionals advise families to refrain from visiting their elderly parents in retirement homes if they have runny noses or if they are coughing.
So far, the virus has affected 144 people belonging to senior care centers and hospitals, while 14 people have been transported to the hospital in the city.
"There were also seven deaths among residents related to these outbreaks, all of which had significant comorbidities," said the latest NSW Health Influenza Surveillance Report.
A total of 2,044 cases were confirmed by influenza laboratories in the four weeks prior to March 3, which is almost double the number in February 2018.
What you need to know about the flu
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, tiredness
– People with influenza are the most contagious in the first 3-4 days after the onset of their illness
– Influenza viruses spread primarily by coughing, sneezing or talking
– People aged 65, people with asthma, diabetes or heart disease, pregnant women and children under 5 years old are at a higher risk of developing complications.
– There are antiviral medicines for influenza that can be used to treat influenza
The areas most affected by epidemics are the southern and eastern parts of Sydney, where more than 118 cases were recorded in one week.
"Part of this increase follows a late influenza season in the tropical regions of Australia, which affected northern New South Wales, and it is now likely that travelers returning from New Zealand will be affected. Northern hemisphere bring home the flu, "said Dr. Vicky Sheppeard of NSW Health's Division of Communicable Diseases.
"Unusually high levels of activity are observed in most states and territories, with a national reporting rate more than three times higher than the average for this time of year," he said. she adds.
The flu season in Australia usually does not start until May or June.
It comes after last year's winter flu season was the most lenient in five years, after the deadly flu season in 2017.
Health authorities warn families not to visit elderly parents in retirement homes if their noses are flowing or coughing (photo of file)
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