11/07/2024
Rising Cases of Flu in SA especially in Children
As of July 1st, 2024, there have been 6,277 cases of influenza reported in South Australia for the year, according to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. It is important to note that this may not be an accurate reflection because of the number of people who do not present to their GP when ill and are therefore not tested. The number of people being diagnosed with influenza this year is therefore believed to be higher.
This represents an increase of 14% compared to the same time last year. Of those, the highest cohort of those diagnosed with flu so far this year are children aged zero to four, with almost 5,000 reported cases reported across Australia to date.
NSW Health data also found 3255 children aged 5 to 9 and 2389 children up to four years old had tested positive for influenza in the week ending June 29, while a staggering 14,537 children aged between 10 and 19 have tested positive for the flu so far this year.
The flu vaccine is free for about 600,000 at-risk South Australians, including under 5s, over 65s, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander South Australians and people with pre-existing health conditions.
Stirling Central Health Clinic provides Flu Vaccination Clinics – if you have not had your vaccination as yet, click here to book your appointment.
https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/stirling-SA-5152/stirling-central-health-clinic/doctors
For more information on influenza, https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/conditions/infectious+diseases/flu/flu+seasonal+-+including+symptoms+treatment+and+prevention
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