The ACT is on track for a record number of flu cases this year. GPs say it's been a particularly busy winter while this year's flu strains are causing significant fatigue.
00:00Canberrans are prepared for the cold but this winter chill has left many feeling under the weather.
00:07In recent weeks GPs have experienced a large spike in flu cases.
00:12Their book on day and emergency appointments are generally being taken up with either influenza-like illnesses and RSV this year.
00:20At this point last year the ACT had recorded two and a half thousand cases of the flu.
00:26Already this year there have been more than 4,000 cases closing in on the record number of cases for a year.
00:33Doctors say the high numbers don't reveal the full extent of the flu in the community.
00:37The numbers that we see in the statistics generally reflect those who are sick enough to be attending for formal PCR testing either at a general practice or a hospital.
00:45GPs say they're seeing a big increase in kids under 10 getting the flu who are in turn passing it on to their parents and grandparents.
00:53Most people are reporting that they're getting a sore throat, productive cough but the thing that people are complaining most about when they see me is really really significant fatigue.
01:02Emergency departments say they believe the flu season will last longer this year after seeing a 5-10% increase in the number of patients in acute care.
01:11In our paediatric space we're seeing around a 20% increase in presentations due to flu or other viral respiratory illnesses.
01:18Doctors are advising people to use a triple test which can test for flu, COVID and RSV and say it's not too late to get the flu shot.
01:27Even now it would be worth getting a flu vaccine. You know there is flu circulating the whole year round so it's always worth getting your yearly flu vaccine.
01:35They say even if you've had the flu this year it's still worth getting the vaccine as it can protect you from other strains that are circulating.
Be the first to comment