With cases of the flu on the rise, the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) is encouraging Victorians to take simple but important steps to protect themselves and others over the coming weeks.
The flu spreads easily and can make people really unwell.
A/Prof Megan Rees, Director of Respiratory Medicine and Sleep Disorders Department at the RMH, recently spoke with The Age about the spike in cases and what might be causing it.
“When I was training decades ago, flu season always peaked in September ... but that was before climate change was as severe as it is now and when we still had snow on the mountains ... it didn’t seem so unusual,” Megan says.
Older people and those with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are more likely to require hospital treatment, Megan adds.
She said older people and those with underlying health conditions such as asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were more likely to require hospital treatment.
The flu virus changes from year to year, which is why a flu vaccination is recommended annually. Each year's vaccine is updated based on the virus strains expected to circulate that season and to help provide the best available protection against current variants. Annual vaccination can also reduce the severity of illness if you do become infected.
“In the hospitalised group, people who are vaccinated probably present less often than people who are unvaccinated, and have less severe disease when they come in,” she says.
In addition to an annual flu vaccination, good hygiene practices play an important role in preventing the spread of the flu and other respiratory illnesses.
Everyone can help reduce transmission by:
- covering coughs and sneezes with their elbow rather than their hands
- washing hands regularly with soap and water and using hand sanitiser
- avoiding close contact with others when experiencing symptoms of illness
- wearing a face mask in crowded areas like the airport
- following public health advice during periods of increased respiratory virus activity
Staying home when sick helps prevent the spread of the flu to family members, colleagues and vulnerable people in the community, including older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
By getting vaccinated, maintaining good hygiene habits and staying home when unwell, we can all play a role in reducing the impact of the flu and helping protect our community.
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