Aussies are being warned not to be complacent with an ongoing flu season as the latest health data shows a spike in the number of patients contracting influenza B.
Despite the warmer days, Dr Jane Wehipeihana from Medical on Robina said people should continue to practice good hygiene by washing their hands and limiting contact if they are sick as the flu season continues.
The Gold Coast GP reviewed data Medical obtained on Robina from a local pathology provider and found a huge increase in positive results for influenza B across Queensland.
Aussies are being warned not to be complacent with an ongoing flu season as the latest health data shows a spike in the number of patients contracting influenza B
Microscope image of the H1N1 flu virus
The data showed that there were more than 400 cases of influenza B confirmed by blood test last month, and only two positive cases in August 2022.
Dr. Wehipeihana said the huge spike was an unusual start to spring.
“It’s somewhat unusual, we see strange spikes every now and then, but compared to last year it’s significant,” Dr Wehipeihana said.
‘The laboratory reports from August last year at one of our premises counted 29,000 swabs and only two were positive.
‘This year (in August) there were almost 5,000 swabs, but 461 cases were positive, so fewer swabs but more cases.’
Although Dr Wehipeihana has not yet seen the September data, she said there were similar results for July and June, with 1,100 positive cases recorded by the local pathology provider in June.
Dr. Wehipeihana said she has seen an increase in patients with influenza B and cold symptoms in recent weeks, including coughs, colds, chills, fever and dizziness.
Gold Coast mother of two Alysia Van Vliet recently recovered from influenza B
Australians urged to get the flu vaccination even though it is now no longer free for most people. Photo: NCA Newswire/Janie Barrett
Gold Coast mother of two Alysia Van Vliet recently recovered from influenza B, which infected her entire family for a few weeks.
“It was really horrible, one of the kids went down and just had body aches and fever, and then it hung around for a few days and then went to the rest of us,” Ms Van Vliet said.
‘For myself, I haven’t been as sick as this in years.
‘It was very difficult, probably for a few days. My daughter and I were confined to bed and slept all day and barely ate.”
Ms Van Vliet said that not only were the health problems worrying, but the financial stress in their household was also taking its toll.
“(The kids) each had a week off from school and we tried to keep it, but we work for ourselves, which is hard because we don’t get sick days.
“We were just playing tag team before the two of us went down (with the flu).”
Ms Van Vliet said although her family are “generally extremely healthy people”, she is urging people to prioritize trying to avoid the virus.
“If anyone in the family gets the flu, do your best and keep an eye on things, it is highly contagious and that can only be controlled,” she said.
“We just kept our space and it still has us.
Gold Coast GP Dr. Jane Wehipeihana says Aussies shouldn’t get complacent about catching the flu, despite the weather warming up
Dr. Wehipeihana encouraged people to get vaccinated against the flu, even though it is now no longer free for most people.
“Every year we see one strain of flu becoming more common than last year, so we change the flu vaccine mix every year,” she said.
“It’s quite common that if there’s a family of four or five, three or four of them get the flu, and… it’s kind of a snowball effect in the households.
‘Prevention is the key.’
Queensland Health stated that since July 1, 2023, 21,457 people have been diagnosed with influenza across the state, including 121 infants under six months of age.
From July 17 to the last update on August 29, more than 141,000 vaccine doses have been given in Queensland, with 30 Queenslanders vaccinated against influenza.
Dr. Wehipeihana said flu season is “not over yet,” and people should also remember that Covid is also rampant within the community
Victoria Health recorded 41,657 flu cases in 2023 at the time of publication.
There were 1601 flu cases in New South Wales in the week ending September 16.
Meanwhile, in South Australia, 15,462 reports of influenza have been reported to the Department for the Control of Communicable Diseases, compared to 11,293 cases reported for the same period last year.
Dr. Wehipeihana said flu season is “not over yet,” and people should also remember that Covid is also rampant in the community.
“I don’t have the numbers for September yet, but we’re seeing it starting to taper off and then occasionally seeing a spike in October or November,” she said.
‘Covid is still here and people are still getting Covid every week, some people are still dying every week.
“It’s still very much in the community.”