Close watch on homes
Influenza outbreak forces Health Department to maintain:
FOURTEEN health and aged care facilities are being monitored by Tasmania’s Public Health Services for further outbreaks of influenza-like illness.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said there had been 1694 confirmed cases of influenza in Tasmania this year.
The Strathdevon aged care facility at Latrobe has suffered six deaths from the virus.
Dr Veitch said this year’s influenza season was “moderately severe” when compared with the past three years.
In Tasmania in 2015, five deaths occurred during influenza outbreaks in three health or aged care facilities, and in 2016 there were nine deaths during influenza outbreaks in eight facilities. Across these two years, there were 24 outbreaks of influenza or influenza-like illness reported to PHS.
“The precise number of deaths that occur when influenza is widespread in the community is unknown,” he said.
“However, during winter months, there can be up to 10 per cent more deaths than average.”
Dr Veitch said Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed influenza and pneumonia were a relatively common cause of death among elderly people nationwide.
PHS publishes fluTAS, a monthly account of influenza during the influenza season, which also notes institutional outbreaks, on the DHHS website.
PHS wrote to all aged care facilities before this year’s influenza season, with advice on preparation, preparedness and response to influenza.
Tasmania’s Public Health Services is continuing to monitor a number of health and aged care facilities across the state that are experiencing outbreaks of influenza.
PHS is assisting by ensuring facilities are aware of national resources to guide clinical and infection control measures that help to limit the spread of illness between unwell and well residents.
The Sunday Tasmanian reported that authorities had urged people not to visit the Beaconsfield District Health Service.
The Strathdevon facility had a high rate of vaccination coverage including staff and patients.