Canadian data show low flu vaccine protection against h3n2. Heres why the 2017 flu season was so bad faculty of medicine. The vaccine formulation was a good match for the circulating strains and correlates well with the quadrivalent vaccine to be used in australia this winter season. Australia flu season bad, what does that mean for the us. People who are at high risk of serious flu illness should take flu antiviral drugs quickly if they get sick. The tga has accepted the recommendations of the aivc. Australia has recorded 221,853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than any other year. Australia had its worst flu season to dateand the us could be.
Everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each season. Aug 18, 2019 it is one of the worst seasons in two decades, second only to the flu epidemic of 2017. Australian influenza surveillance report 2019 influenza season in australia. Last flu season was the worst in nearly a decade, more severe than any since the swine flu outbreak in 2009. During the 20172018 season, influenzalikeillness ili activity began to increase in november, reaching an extended period of high activity during january and february nationally, and remained elevated through the end of march. This information is used to publish the flu trend graph, below. Healthdirect australia collects data based on flurelated calls to the healthdirect helpline 1800 022 222. Both influenza a subtypes circulated in australia before november 2018, with.
Sep 08, 2019 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. In 2017, approximately two thirds of deaths due to influenza 806 deaths were certified with an identified. Flu activity levels are also higher than they were around this time of year during the brutal 20172018 flu season which turned out to be one of the worst on record. Jan 08, 2020 those over 65 are usually the group hardest hit by flu. A severe influenza season is continuing in australia as of september, but. This follows on from the biggest flu season weve ever recorded in 2017. Aivc recommendations for the composition of influenza vaccine. As the flu season comes to an end, were beginning to understand why it was so bad.
It is one of the worst seasons in two decades, second only to the flu epidemic of 2017. With severe flu season potentially on horizon, doctors are. Influenza activity can sometimes be predicted and even tracked geographically. Dec 06, 2017 the effectiveness of flu shots can vary each year. There was some variation across the country, with western australia not experiencing levels of influenza as high as the rest of australia. Nov 02, 2017 australia has recorded 221,853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than any other year.
This was in stark contrast to the 2017 season, when australias highest levels of. Aug 03, 2017 australia s winter flu outbreak spikes early in season. 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. Australias last bad flu season was in 2017, which saw more than 229,000 laboratory confirmed cases of.
The blue line in the graph shows flurelated calls to the helpline for the current year, in proportion to all calls. 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. Heres why the 2017 flu season was so bad the conversation. Contrary to popular belief, you should not wait until november or december to get your flu shot. The 20192020 flu season is up and runningand so far, its off to a weird start. Australia experienced a severe season in 2017, followed by a mild. This year the cdc recommends only vaccines that are injected. The flu season in australia has started early, prompting some alarming headlines. Flu keeps australia under the weather virology down under. Deadly flu season has researchers racing to find out why this year. Oct 26, 2017 what australia s bad flu season might mean for us and other flu facts you need to know shari rudavsky, indystar published 6. Australias immunisation coalition reported 168,337 influenza cases so far in 2017. Australia s last bad flu season was in 2017, which saw more than 229,000 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported by the end of october. Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of outbreaks of influenza flu.
Until this year, 2017 was australias worst flu season to date, with more. Flu is now widespread in 10 states, including california. Tom price, resigned in september 2017 after it was revealed that he had. The aivc recommendation for the composition of influenza vaccines for australia in 2017 introduces a new a h1n1pdm09 like virus strain when compared to the composition of the trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines for australia in 2016. Australia has recorded 221,853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than. Last year there were 15,664 notifications in queensland, down from the peak 2017 year with 56,590. Thus far this season, 27 children have died of flu in 201718, 187 died but pediatric deaths dont normally start peaking until. Healthdirect australia collects data based on flu related calls to the healthdirect helpline 1800 022 222. Flu activity has been elevated since the start of november and is only expected to continue climbing, the. At the waca in perth, australia win the third test of the five match 201718 ashes series, regaining the ashes from england.
In some states the flu season appears to be over, but the number of people being diagnosed in the eastern. Mar 29, 2019 record flu numbers sweep australia in unexpected 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. D172790191 2017 season summary final at 22 november. Mar 06, 2017 flu activity was moderate for the flu season in north america. Nationally, the 2017 influenza season was the largest since the 2009 pandemic year. Flu cases double as experts worry this season could be.
The winter spike in flu like symptoms is occurring earlier than usual across australia this year, new data suggests. Australia has recorded 221853 flu infections so far in 2017, more. Sep 21, 2017 australia is suffering through one of its worst flu seasons in recent years, health officials there say. The number and rate of influenza infections in australia at august 17. The season occurs during the cold half of the year in each hemisphere. More than 140 million flu shots have been given in the 2016 2017 flu season. Australias winter flu outbreak spikes early in season. Sep 14, 2017 bad flu season in australia not a good sign for u. Why australias rough flu season could be bad news for canada ctvnews. Australian influenza surveillance report 2017 season summary key messages. The blue line in the graph shows flu related calls to the helpline for the current year, in proportion to all calls. 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 average number between 2006 and 2017 was 46 percent, according to data from the cdc. With the flu season starting earlier in australia, and us already.
Feb 02, 2018 flu infections are widespread across the northern hemisphere, yet experts say the current season, though severe in many regions, is overall unremarkable. As australia battled a tough 2017 flu season, led by h3n2, researchers in late october reported interim flu ve at 33% overall, which is low, but protection against h3n2 was even lower, at 10%. 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. 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. Sep 25, 2017 how bad is the flu in 2017 in australia. Flu season which struck down 310,000 australians worst on record. Flu is hitting us hard and there could be worse on the way sick people are being urged to stay home in a bid to contain a flu outbreak that may be the second most severe on.
Unusual type of flu virus is dominating early start to this. Australian influenza surveillance report 2017 season summary. Probably yes, although in tropical regions of australia there tends to be two flu seasons a year and the second season may not have hit there yet, professor cheng says. Dec 09, 2017 in a worse season, flu can kill a lot more, like around 56,000 people in the 201220 season. Australia s severe flu season may shed light on whats in store for the u. Recently published research suggests that mutations occurring in eggprepared vaccines may have contributed to decreased vaccine effectiveness during the 2016 2017 influenza season in the united states and the 2017 flu season in australia. Peak activity has been reached and now starting to fall. Intense interseasonal influenza outbreaks, australia, 201819 ncbi.
What australias bad flu season might mean for us and other. Cases of flulike illness reported by the gp surveillance system began rising around the end of march, about two months earlier than over the. D172790191 2017 season summary final at 22 november 20174. Researchers say early outbreaks to blame for worst flu. Laboratory confirmed influenza is a notifiable disease in australia. Severity of the 2019 influenza season in australia a comparison. Last year, australia experienced its worst flu season on record, with more than 310,000 people presenting to hospital and health services nationwide. Dec 04, 2019 the flu season is off to a particularly early start this year with seemingly more influenza activity last month than any other november since 2009, the year of the h1n1 flu pandemic. During the 2017 2018 season, influenzalikeillness ili activity began to increase in november, reaching an extended period of high activity during january and february nationally, and remained elevated through the end of march. In 2017, a terrible flu season in australia presaged an american. Most australian states stopped their weeklyfortnightly flu season. Experts warned that if h3n2 dominated the northern hemispheres flu season, the vaccine might not provide much protection.
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