Upswing in Swine Influenza Cases

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NT Dept of Health & Families Media Release :

Second H1N1 Death Highlights Need to Vaccinate
22 September 2010

The deaths of two elderly men in Darwin from H1N1 influenza (swine flu) in the past 48 hours have highlighted the importance of people obtaining the seasonal flu vaccination as soon as possible. “The patients had serious underlying health problems, which placed them in a high risk category for severe disease from H1N1 influenza,” said the Acting Director of the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Peter Markey. “Over the past few months, in advance of the annual flu season, we have been advising people to get vaccinated. It is recognised that influenza is more likely to occur in places where vaccination rates are lower.”
“Personal protection measures such as hand washing and covering up when you cough or sneeze are also important, but vaccination against the flu remains the best way to protect yourself and the people around you.
“It is especially important for those at high risk to get a flu shot. This includes people with serious health conditions who are at risk of greater complications from the flu, and also includes the people looking after them.
“Flu vaccination is also very important for pregnant women, people with obesity and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.”

Pockets of increased flu activity can be seen in groups with lower rates of vaccination coverage. Recent monitoring of flu activity has shown a steady increase in the number of cases reported.
The most common strain of influenza circulating this year is H1N1, or “swine flu”. This year’s influenza notifications total 173, with 139 of them being H1N1. Forty six of these cases have been in the last week and seventeen of these have required hospitalisation. “This confirms that the flu season is upon us,” Dr Markey said.
“Both the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine protect against this strain of the virus.
”People suffering from flu are advised to stay at home and avoid people when unwell, to practise regular and thorough hand washing and to covering their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended and available free to groups at greater risk of complications from the disease. These include pregnant women, Indigenous people over 15 years of age, anyone over 65 and anyone over 6 months of
age with chronic medical conditions. Vaccination against swine flu is also available free for everyone over the age of six months for a few more weeks.

Vaccination can be organised with your GP or your usual healthcare provider. For further
information go to http://www.health.nt.gov.au/Flu/index.aspx

Media Contact: Dale Webster 8999 2818, 0401 116 203

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