Sep 14, 2017 bad flu season in australia not a good sign for u. The 2017 2018 united states flu season lasted from late 2017 through early 2018. Some countries, such as australia, had one of their most severe flu seasons in a number of years. Dec 04, 2017 the vaccine for the 2017 2018 season is meant to protect against the h1n1 strain, but more than half of confirmed flu cases in australia tested positive for the h3n2 strain. Vaccines for the flu offer mediocre coverage compared with those for other diseases. Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of outbreaks of influenza flu. A threeyearold child is the youngest of 26 people whose deaths have been attributed to victorias earlystarting flu season this year the youngster, along with two others aged six and 11, reported to the health department several weeks ago, acting chief health officer. Eight people have died in just the past week alone, bringing the toll to 35. There was also variation across jurisdictions in the influenza type and subtype distribution. Sep 12, 2017 australia has reported 98,000 confirmed cases of the flu this season more than double the rate it was this time last year.
Healthdirect australia collects data based on flurelated calls to the healthdirect helpline 1800 022 222. Part of the reason for that, she says, is that the strain known as h1n1 has predominated. The 2017 flu season put enormous strain on australias public hospitals, some cancelling elective surgeries. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the united states between december and march. Since flu associated deaths in children became a nationally notifiable condition in 2004, the total number of flu associated deaths among children during one season has ranged from 37 during the 20112012 season to 186 during the 2017 18 season, as of april 19, 2019. Vicious flu season claims 430 lives in australia newscomau. Sep 21, 2017 australia is suffering through one of its worst flu seasons in recent years, health officials there say.
Australian influenza surveillance report 2017 season summary key messages. Australia has recorded 221,853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than any other year. Sep 26, 2018 the australia season is an imperfect predictor because the flu virus can shift and mutate, said kerri tesreau with the missouri department of health and senior services. Australias winter flu outbreak spikes early in season. Since fluassociated deaths in children became a nationally notifiable condition in 2004, the total number of fluassociated deaths among children during one season has ranged from 37 during the 20112012 season to 186 during the 201718 season, as of april 19, 2019. Mackay, the university of queensland and katherine arden, the university of queensland.
The youngest killed by the virus was just 15 years old. In 2017, a terrible flu season in australia presaged an american outbreak in which 79000 died. Faq on what people need to know about flu, for the 2016. In 2017, australia had a horror flu season, with nearly 1100 people dying and hundreds of thousands falling ill. As the flu season comes to an end, were beginning to understand why it was so bad. The blue line in the graph shows flurelated calls to the helpline for the current year, in proportion to all calls. D172790191 2017 season summary final at 22 november 20174. New reports out of australia contain some sobering news. The 20172018 united states flu season lasted from late 2017 through early 2018. A severe influenza season is continuing in australia as of september, but.
Researchers say early outbreaks to blame for worst flu. Heres why the 2017 flu season was so bad the conversation. Deadly flu season has researchers racing to find out why. As the flu season comes to an end, were beginning to. Nationally, the 2017 influenza season was the largest since the 2009 pandemic year.
The flu season started early this year after a mild one in 2018, leading to significantly higher numbers of influenza cases than usually experienced by this point. There was some variation across the country, with western australia not experiencing levels of influenza as high as the rest of australia. Public health experts say the united states should expect a moderate to severe flu season, noting how the influenza season has played out in australia dr. Cases of flulike illness reported by the gp surveillance system began rising around the end of march, about two months earlier than over the. In some states the flu season appears to be over, but the number of people being diagnosed in the eastern. The 2017 flu season put enormous strain on australia s public hospitals, some cancelling elective surgeries. Flu season in 2017 the deadliest since records began. Professor cheng estimates in total, about 5 per cent of. Flu is hitting us hard and there could be worse on the way. Australias immunisation coalition reported 168,337 influenza cases so far in 2017. Aug 14, 2018 the flu season for this year, for 2018, in australia has been very mild, says kanta subbarao, a virologist and physician in melbourne who is director of the world health organization who collaborating center for reference and research on influenza.
A human cell infected with the h3n2 flu virus, responsible for. Adjusted ve was low overall at 33% 95% confidence interval ci. Flu vaccine wont be as effective this season, experts warn. Flu season begins in nsw after influenza horror year of 2017. Flu deaths in australia hit 300 as experts describe flu. Sep 18, 2019 the 2019 flu season will suck for america just ask australia australians are sneezing and coughing and getting hospitalized. The flu season for this year, for 2018, in australia has been very mild, says kanta subbarao, a virologist and physician in melbourne who is director of the world health organization who collaborating center for reference and research on influenza. Its estimated that 800 people died in intensive care units in australia and new zealand, research published in the new england journal of medicine has found.
Nov 02, 2017 australia has recorded 221,853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than any other year. Australia is suffering through one of its worst flu seasons in recent years, health officials there say. Oct 04, 2019 in 2017, a terrible flu season in australia presaged an american outbreak in which 79,000 died. Australia has reported 98,000 confirmed cases of the flu this season more than double the rate it was this time last year. Low interim influenza vaccine effectiveness, australia, 1 may. Sep 03, 2017 australia is having a worse flu season than usual this year, with 93,711 laboratoryconfirmed cases as of august 18, almost 2. Flu season could be especially long and deadly this year. Healthdirect australia collects data based on flu related calls to the healthdirect helpline 1800 022 222. Last year, australia experienced its worst flu season on record, with more than 310,000 people presenting to hospital and health services nationwide. Low interim influenza vaccine effectiveness, australia, 1.
In 2017, approximately two thirds of deaths due to influenza 806 deaths were certified with an identified. The country is reeling from a potent flu season that has. The 2019 flu season will suck for america just ask australia australians are sneezing and coughing and getting hospitalized. What australias bad flu season means for europe, north. Australias 2018 flu season mild so far compared to 2017. Heres why the 2017 flu season was so bad faculty of. Australias flu season gives hints for our own aarp. Now is the time for american to get their shots and brace for a really bad influenza season. Australias last bad flu season was in 2017, which saw more than 229,000 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported by the end of october. Laboratory confirmed influenza is a notifiable disease in australia. Flu activity what sort of flu season are we experiencing. In all states except hawaii and oregon, the distribution of influenza was indicated as widespread, including 32 states that had high flu activity. Influenza activity can sometimes be predicted and even tracked geographically. The vaccine for the 20172018 season is meant to protect against the h1n1 strain, but more than half of confirmed flu cases in australia tested positive for the h3n2 strain.
D172790191 2017 season summary final at 22 november. Aug 18, 2019 it is one of the worst seasons in two decades, second only to the flu epidemic of 2017. The flu season continues to worsen in south australia, with more than 15,500 cases and 35 deaths now reported to health authorities. In the united states that season, nearly 49 million people got the flu or flulike symptoms, almost one. While there was geographic variation across australia, in general the 2017 influenza season saw the highest levels of activity since the 2009. The australia season is an imperfect predictor because the flu virus can shift and mutate, said kerri tesreau with the missouri department of health and senior services. In 2017, a terrible flu season in australia presaged an american outbreak in which 79,000 died. We present interim influenza vaccine effectiveness ve estimates from australia. For the 20162017 season, influenzalikeillness ili in the united states went above baseline the week ending december 17, 2016 and remained elevated as of midmarch. Sep 24, 2019 the flu season in australia is seen as an indicator of whats in store for the us, and the country just had one of its worst seasons to date. In 2017, influenza seasonal activity was high in the southern hemisphere. Why australia wasnt ready for a dangerous flu season.
In australia, the flu season is considered may to october. Cases of flu in australia have dramatically fallen this year. Aug 18, 2019 as the killer flu season reaches record heights, claiming 430 lives, health authorities are scrambling to find out why. As of a flu activity update published in the morbidity and mortality weekly report on february 17, 2017, flu activity during the 2016 2017 season had been moderate, with influenza a h3n2 viruses predominating and severity indicators within the range of what has been seen during previous seasons that were h3n2predominant. The flu season in australia is seen as an indicator of whats in store for the us, and the country just had one of its worst seasons to date. Brazil, on the other hand, has had a very mild season. Australia hit by worst flu outbreak on record in 2017. As the killer flu season reaches record heights, claiming 430 lives, health authorities are scrambling to find out why. Why australia wasnt ready for a dangerous flu season the. What australias bad flu season might mean for us and other flu facts you need to know shari rudavsky, indystar published 6. Australias 2017 flu season was the worst the country had experienced in nearly a decade.
Australias booze intake dropped during coronavirus lockdown. The niss coordinates information during flu season from a number of sources, with a focus on understanding and reporting severity of disease. And it wasnt because of increased, or more sensitive, testing. The season occurs during the cold half of the year in each hemisphere.
Influenza has been documented since january interseasonal period, with the season beginning in may and a rapid rise in cases in early june. But experts believe australias moderately bad season has probably hit its peak. But its hard to say for sure until the flu season is over and all the data is collated. The winter spike in flulike symptoms is occurring earlier than usual across australia this year, new data suggests. The blue line in the graph shows flu related calls to the helpline for the current year, in proportion to all calls. In some states the flu season appears to be over, but the number of. During the spring months of marchmay, influenza b virus became dominant. The niss coordinates information during flu season from a number of sources, with a focus on understanding and reporting severity of disease, virology and incidence. Dec 05, 2019 in 2017, australia had a very bad flu season, just like the u. Flu season has officially begun in nsw, two months later than the brutal 2017 season, nsw health will announce on friday.
It is one of the worst seasons in two decades, second only to the flu epidemic of 2017. The death toll has risen even further as the number of flu cases in south australia hits a new and worrying high. Mar 23, 2018 in 2017, australia had a horror flu season, with nearly 1100 people dying and hundreds of thousands falling ill. About 300 people have died from the flu already this year more than double that in all of 2018. The flu season in australia has started early, prompting some alarming headlines. Queensland flu season could eclipse 2017 epidemic sbs news. Deadly flu season has researchers racing to find out why this. Experts are waiting to see if similar will happen in. Sep 22, 2019 australias last bad flu season was in 2017, which saw more than 229,000 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported by the end of october. The influenza a virus known as h3n2 was the most common strain in australia this past flu season.
While the beginning of major flu activity in each season varies by location, in any. But experts believe australia s moderately bad season has probably hit its peak. The atlantic also noted that the 2017 vaccine for the flu was only ten percent effective against h3n2 in australia. This information is used to publish the flu trend graph, below. Australia flu season bad, what does that mean for the us. Aug 15, 2017 australia is in the grip of the worst flu outbreak on record and experts are urging people to have a flu vaccine now before its too late. Sep 25, 2017 how bad is the flu in 2017 in australia. Wa, the contrast between 2018 and 2017 seasons and the 5 year mean was less pronounced due to wa having a much milder 2017 season than the southern and eastern states. Until this year, 2017 was australias worst flu season to date, with more than 229,000 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza. Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of outbreaks of influenza. Australia, which is finishing its flu season, had an unusually early and initially severe season, beginning in april, two months earlier than usual, and lasting into october.
Sue dunlevy news corp australia network august 15, 2017. But it is too soon to say whether 2019 will truly prove a horror season, as some press reports have it, or simply a typical year shifted in time by several weeks. Australia prepares for 2018 flu season the new daily. Australian influenza surveillance report 2017 season summary. Since the flu season down under begins in july, these data may give us a glimpse of what to expect in the us this winter. Queenslands flu season could top the prolonged 2017 outbreak with more than 3000 people struck down already in the first four months of the year. The 2019 flu season will suck for america just ask australia. Australia is in the grip of the worst flu outbreak on record and experts are urging people to have a flu vaccine now before its too late. As the typical practice of studying and creating the current vaccines in chicken eggs tends to result in mutations, 2017 was the first year that researchers used dog cells rather than chicken eggs to create the h3n2 component of. Information brief 2018 influenza season in australia. Melbourne, australia australias carefree attitude toward preventive medicine may have met its match. In 2017, australia had a very bad flu season, just like the u.