Influenza hitting hard in 2007
Australia is facing its worst influenza season in years with people of all ages being hit.
This year 3,084 cases have been reported compared with 1,213 during the whole of 2006. The hardest hit has been Queensland with 1,414 cases this year, followed by 518 in New South Wales,
8 in Western Australia, and 220 in Victoria.
Dr Ian Barr, deputy director of the World Health organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne, said the ‘flu’ figures in Australia were the most serious since 1997 and 2003.
“It’s certainly bigger this year than it has been in the last couple of years. We had very mild seasons in 2004, 2005, and 2006.”
Dr Barr said that people’s immunity may have fallen in recent years.
“We often see a serious season following after a few mild seasons in a row. That may be due to a lack of circulation of strains, and a lack of exposure to people with influenza for a few years. Their immunity wanes and then they come down with it. Everyone is susceptible.”
At present about 20% of the population gets vaccinated against influenza. “I think we’d all like to see that rate higher,” Dr Barr said.
