INFLUENZA numbers continue to reach new heights despite the arrival of spring.
SA Health reports it recorded the most flu notifications in a week since the 2009 swine flu pandemic, despite the rest of the nation seeing a drop in cases.
There were 1200 flu cases notified to SA Health last week including more than 300 in a single day — and officials warn the worst may be yet to come.
The flu season is being partly blamed for chronic crowding in hospital emergency departments in recent months — for example this morning at 9.30am Flinders Medical Centre had commenced treatment of 53 people in its ED which has a capacity of 53 people.
Health Minister Jack Snelling said the latest figures highlight the severity of the flu season.
“The number of flu cases we have seen in the past week is also very close to what we saw in
2009 during the swine flu pandemic when there was a record of approximately 1500 flu
notifications in the space of a week,” Mr Snelling said.
“Overall we have recorded 10,755 flu notifications so far this year, which compares to 6,128
notifications at the same time last year and 11,050 cases for the whole of 2014.”
SA Health Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paddy Phillips said South Australia is seeing flu
cases continue to increase despite a downturn in flu notifications across the country.
“South Australia is yet to reach the peak of the flu season, and while early indications from
other states show we may start to see notifications ease over the coming weeks, people must
remain vigilant,” Professor Phillips said.
“I encourage South Australians to still consider getting a flu shot as it’s not too late and help
stop the spread of the disease by practising good hand hygiene, wiping down surfaces and
covering a cough or sneeze with a tissue or their arm.
“Those affected by the flu should also stay away from childcare, school or work until they are
free of flu symptoms.”
SA Health began officially began recording influenza notifications in 2008 when it was
classified as a notifiable disease.