Flu season still not over for Kiwis

A high uptake of the influenza vaccine is being credited for a significant decrease in flu cases nationwide but experts warn that Kiwis might not be out of the woods yet.

The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), which manages the national influenza surveillance programme on behalf of the Ministry of Health, has extended the monitoring period for another month after a late season spike.

Based on its flu monitoring around the country, at least 6300 people who visited a general practice and more than 1400 hospitalised patients have been infected with influenza this winter.

In comparison, an estimated 14,000 GP visits and 2300 hospitalisations were related to the flu last winter.

There had been expectations of a potentially severe season this year, given the high levels of flurelated hospitalisation and death seen during the Northern Hemisphere winter.

While that hadn’t eventuated here, ESR intelligence group leader Dr Lisa Oakley said that many people infected with the flu might not have sought care or have even shown symptoms, meaning the figures were conservative.

Changes had been made to this year’s seasonal flu vaccine to better cover some strains of influenza experienced overseas earlier this year, she said.

‘‘The vaccine covered four of the viruses circulating globally, including the Flu A(H1N1) that we are currently seeing most commonly in New Zealand.’’

A possible reason for the relatively low number of cases could be that there was a good level of immunity to the circulating H1N1 strain, she said. Record numbers of Kiwis had opted for a flu shot this year with more than 1.29 million doses having been distributed by early July.

While the low number was heartening, ESR had chosen to extend its surveillance for the rest of October.

‘‘The vaccine covered four of the viruses circulating globally.’’ Dr Lisa Oakley