Horror local flu season looms
Geelong infections soar alongside Covid cases
GEELONG is on track to rack up its worst flu season on record while the region also records hundreds of new Covid cases daily.
Health Department data shows Greater Geelong has recorded 525 confirmed influenza cases so far this year, more than the 497 in the same period in 2019, which was worst year on record. The municipality eventually recorded 2252 cases that year, the figures show.
And Greater Geelong has so far this year already outstripped annual confirmed influenza case totals for recent years including 2021 (five cases), 2020 (152) and 2018 (427).
Barwon South West public health unit director Eugene Athan said Barwon Health was seeing significant rising numbers of respiratory-related presentations for influenza and Covid at the emergency department.
And about half of flu cases in the past two weeks have been people aged 19 and under.
GEELONG is on track to rack up its worst flu season on record while the region also records hundreds of new Covid cases daily.
Health Department data shows Greater Geelong has recorded 525 confirmed influenza cases so far this year, more than the 497 in the same period in 2019, which was worst year on record.
The municipality eventually recorded 2252 cases that year, the figures show.
And Greater Geelong has so far this year already outstripped annual confirmed influenza case totals for recent years including 2021 (five cases), 2020 (152) and 2018 (427).
Barwon South West public health unit director Eugene Athan said Barwon Health was seeing significant rising numbers of respiratory-related presentations for influenza and Covid at the emergency department.
“Across the state, we are seeing high numbers of flu in young people, with around 52 per cent of flu cases identified in the past two weeks occurring in people aged 19 and under,” Professor Athan said.
“It is a reminder for parents considering getting their children vaccinated against the flu, to do so as soon as possible.
“In the community, there is a continued importance to practise hand hygiene and mask-wearing when social distancing is not possible, particularly as influenza spreads. Whilst there are no official co-infections of flu and Covid identified in the region, there may be people in the community that are not aware that they have both viruses simultaneously.”
On Friday, there were 22 Covid patients in Geelong hospital, including both active and cleared cases, with one of those patients in intensive care.
Epworth Geelong executive general manager Leonie Lloyd said the hospital was currently treating a small number of Covid-19 patients, with none in ICU.
“We are also treating a patient who has influenza A,” Ms Lloyd said.
“The best thing people can do to protect themselves and our community is to ensure their Covid-19 vaccination is up to date and roll up their sleeve and have a flu vaccination as soon as possible.”
St John of God Geelong
Hospital chief executive Stephen Roberts said the hospital was caring for one patient who had tested positive to Covid-19.
“We are experiencing an increased number of presentations to our emergency department with flu-related symptoms,” he said.
On Friday, 595 new Covid cases were reported for Greater Geelong. The Surf Coast also recorded 58 new cases, the Borough of Queenscliffe three, Golden Plains 59 and ColacOtway 34.
Victoria recorded 12,556 new cases and 23 deaths.