SOUTH West families and residents have been warned to guard against influenza with cases expected to rise this year.
A quarter or more of the Australian population could face an increased risk of severe complication when contracting flu this season, according to national leading influenza medical expert body, Influenza Specialist Group.
WA Country Health Service South West public health physician Dr Naru Pal said the region’s current influenza activity levels remained low, but higher than at the same time in last year.
“A total of 18 confirmed cases of flu have been reported so far this year with five hospitalisations in the South West compared with 14 cases and four hospitalisations at the same time last year,” Dr Pal said.
“Flu is a highly contagious and potentially serious disease that mainly spreads by droplets produced when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes.
“People should not wait until the last moment to get vaccinated as it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to be fully protective.”
Dr Pal said the single best way to protect against the flu was to get vaccinated each year before winter.
“Minor side-effects of the vaccine may include soreness at the injection site or, unusually, mild flu-like symptoms,” he said.
“But you can’t catch ‘the flu’ from the vaccine as it does not contain any live virus.”
The flu vaccine is available free of charge to at-risk groups and for a fee to the general community through GPs, Aboriginal Health Services and community vaccination providers.
Attendance at some clinics may incur a consultation fee.
WA Health provides an influenza factsheet and other related information at public.health.wa.gov. au
