Worst of flu still to come

THE worst of Tasmania’s flu season is still to come, with further pressure expected on hospitals and GPs next week, the Australian Medical Association says.

AMA Tasmania president Stuart Day said the influenza virus was at its peak in Queensland and NSW, with Tasmania expected to follow in the coming weeks.

“We usually track two weeks behind ... their flu he said. “They are at their peak now.”

Dr Day said significant pressures were expected on hospitals and GPs next week.

“We’re seeing it increase pressure on the hospital system in Launceston Hobart now,” he said.

“The illness is not specific to any demographic but the immunisations target the elderly and very young.”

Tasmania Health Service figures show the number of confirmed cases of flu has risen to 860 this year.

Public Health director Mark Veitch said this week that this winter’s flu season started several weeks earlier

and than usual, with recorded cases high since mid-July.

He said 200 notifications had been received for last week alone, but the actual number of cases would be higher.

It comes as Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary Neroli Ellis said she had been told infection-control precautions were put in place at Bupa South Hobart on Wednesday because of an influenza scare.

However, a Bupa spokeswoman said although there were some scares, tests of a handful of patients returned negative results for influenza.

She said the illness was the common cold, with the Department of Health and Human Services alerted as a precaution.

Ms Ellis said nursing staff at aged-care facilities and hospitals across Tasmania were quite vigilant on flu outbreaks.

“We know the Royal [Hobart Hospital] has been under massive pressure because of the extra 10 per cent admissions that normally come through as respiratory complications from the flu,” she said.

Royal Hobart Hospital nurse Monica Werner said the Emergency Department was stretched. “Emergency is full of sick people, flu being part of a number of other issues needing emergency care,” she said.