FLU CASES SOAR

Influenza cases double in Barwon South West region

270 reported cases in last three weeks

Hospitalisations skyrocket as we hit peak of sick season

GEELONG is in the peak of an “intense” flu season that has seen some victims admitted to the intensive care unit.

Department of Health figures show there have been 436 reported cases of influenza in the Barwon South West region from January 1 to August 6 — more than double the 170 cases from the same period last year.

About 270 of the cases were reported in the past three weeks alone.

Barwon Health Infectious Diseases physician Deborah Friedman said the “intense” flu season had seen many victims hospitalised.

“There has been increased demand in 2017, with substantially more cases than last year,” Ms Friedman said.

“Nearly 50 cases have been admitted to Barwon Health with flu this season.

“We have had some very severe cases in 2017, with several patients admitted to the intensive care unit because of complications of influenza.”

Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory figures showed the number of notified laboratory confirmed flu cases for the year to July 30 is 149 per cent higher than at the same time in 2016.

The VIDRL Victorian Sentinel Practice Influenza Network report featuring the figures found the start of the flu season had occurred in late June this year, compared to an early August start last year.

Victorian deputy Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said Victoria was in the peak of its flu season.

“It’s probably about four, five, six weeks earlier than we typically see for the peak of the season, and the peak is probably happening either right now or in the next week or two,” Dr Sutton said.

“We also started from a high base, so even from the beginning of the year the socalled ‘off season’ or ‘low season’ for flu was already higher than we normally see.”

The early peak to the season did not necessarily mean it would end early. But he said: “It hopefully means that come September we’ll be well and truly through the peak and we’ll have everything easing up on the system in terms of emergency departments and GP pressures and people out of work off sick.”

The early start also didn’t mean a longer or more severe flu season could be expected, Dr Sutton said.

The Influenza Network report found one influenza isolate had shown resistance to a flu antiviral drug, but Dr Sutton said that was not unusual.