Getting Through The Flu This Winter

MEDIA RELEASE 10 August 2010

Getting Through The Flu This Winter

All the signs are here that the winter influenza season is well and truly with us.

Notifications of confirmed H1N1 influenza and reports of influenza-like illness in the community have been increasing up and down New Zealand over the past few weeks.

A similar picture has emerged across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes regions with increased notifications of influenza to the Medical Officer of Health.

We have been expecting that H1N1 influenza would be a significant part of this year’s winter influenza season. There was a great effort earlier this year to encourage as many people as possible to get immunised, particularly if they had a medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes. Pregnant women and very young children were also offered this free vaccination. Indications are that more people than ever took the decision to get vaccinated and so there is more immunity in the community to this year’s influenza strain. In addition, a national study showed that up to a third of the population may have developed immunity during last year’s pandemic wave.

Whilst these facts mean that the influenza season will not be as severe as it could have been, influenza needs to be taken seriously. The vast majority of people with influenza recover within a week without requiring hospitalisation or medical attention. However, for some people influenza can be a very serious illness.

What you can do to look after you and your family this winter

The basic measures to protect yourself and others remain the same, but are even more important as we see more influenza circulating in the community:

It’s not too late to get immunised. Free immunisation for people in eligible groups will continue while there’s still vaccine available. This year’s seasonal influenza vaccine protects against the H1N1 influenza strain and is especially recommended for those at greater risk of complications from H1N1 influenza, including women who are pregnant, very young children, severely overweight people and those with underlying medical conditions.
• Know the symptoms of influenza, which can include a high fever, headache, cough, sore throat, tiredness and generally aching all over.
• If you develop influenza symptoms phone your GP or Healthline (0800 611 116) early for medical advice, including consideration of whether you would benefit from antiviral medicine treatment. Seeking early medical advice is especially important for women who are pregnant, severely overweight people and those with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart and lung disease and other conditions including auto-immune diseases.
If you have influenza symptoms, stay at home until you are clear of symptoms, particularly coughing and sneezing, as you can easily spread the virus to others. It is especially important that children who are sick stay home from school.
• Wash and dry your hands frequently and cover coughs and sneezes to help prevent the spread of influenza
If you or your family are ill and you are concerned, or if your condition worsens, get health advice by calling your GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116.

More information on influenza and on how to manage influenza at home, may be found at:

http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/influenza

ENDS

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