NSW Health is urging the community to protect themselves against serious illness as cases of flu and emergency presentations continue to rise across the state.
The increase in cases week on week is growing, in the week ending 15 June 2024 there was an increase of 33 percent in people diagnosed with influenza compared with the previous week.
The flu is dangerous as it can cause pneumonia, make chronic underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, lung and heart disease much worse requiring hospital administration and causing death.
“The latest data also showed an increase in the number of people who presented to NSW emergency departments (EDs) with influenza-like illness, and some increase in admissions from EDs as well,” NSW Health Executive Director of Health Protection, Dr McAnulty said.
“Vaccination is the best protection against infection and severe disease. Everyone, but particularly those at higher risk of severe disease, is urged to get their influenza vaccination now; it’s not too late to get vaccinated. By getting vaccinated you also help protect those around you.”
People who are at higher risk of severe illness from influenza who are eligible for free vaccination include: people aged 65 years and over, children aged six months to under five years, Aboriginal people from six months of age, pregnant women and those with serious health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, immune disorders, severe asthma, kidney, heart, and lung disease.
