An early flu season has hit Melbourne’s south-east, prompting a call for people to get their flu vaccination now.
Acting Director of the South East Public Health Unit Associate Professor Simon Crouch said the latest data showed 90 per cent more cases in south-east Melbourne than the same time last year.
“Flu has arrived earlier this year and we have already had more than 4,300 laboratory-confirmed cases across the south-east of Melbourne,” Associate Professor Crouch said. “This compares with less than 2,300 cases at this time last year.”
“In addition, national hospital surveillance shows an increase in influenza B, after very few cases last year. This is significant because influenza B can cause severe disease in children.”
A yearly vaccination is recommended for everyone over six months of age.
“While it’s impossible to predict how bad a flu season will be at this time of the year, we know it was a big flu season in some parts of the northern hemisphere, including with deaths in children.”
“The flu vaccination is now available, so I recommend you book in your appointment now – especially if you have risk factors or an underlying health condition.”
Flu is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract that can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications (including pneumonia). It affects people of all ages.
The flu vaccine is free for children aged 6 month to 5 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over, pregnant women, anyone aged 65 years or over and anyone aged 6 months or over with a serious medical condition that puts them at higher risk.
You can get a flu vaccine from your GP, local council immunisation service or local pharmacist immuniser. Some workplaces provide flu vaccination programs to employees.
On average each year in Australia, influenza causes approximately 100 deaths and 5100 hospitalisations. These numbers are widely believed to under-represent the true burden of the disease.