16 September 2010
Influenza is more likely to spread in places where vaccination rates are lower, the Director of the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Vicki Krause, warned today as the flu season builds in the NT.
Dr Krause says the annual flu season has now arrived and she urged anyone who had not yet had a flu shot, particularly those at high risk, to do so.
"Vaccination against the flu remains one of the best ways to protect yourself and the people around you," she said.
"It is particularly recommended for people at risk of greater complications from the flu and the people looking after them."
Dr Krause says the Northern Territory has had 122 laboratory confirmed cases of flu this year, with 25 notifications in the past week.
"These cases have mainly been in the Top End but it is likely that the flu will spread to the Centre within the next week," she said.
"There is no doubt that pockets of increased flu activity can be seen in groups with lower rates of vaccination coverage."
Dr Krause said monitoring of flu activity has shown that in recent weeks, there has been a steady increase in the number of cases reported.
"This indicates the flu season is now upon us," she said.
"It is happening in other states and is a timely reminder to get vaccinated against the flu."
The most common strain of influenza circulating this year is H1N1, described as "swine flu" in 2009.
Both the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine protect against this strain of the virus.
For those affected by the flu, Dr Krause advises staying at home and avoiding people when unwell, practising regular and thorough hand washing and covering your mouth when coughing.
"These are easy and important ways to decrease transmission in the community," she said.
Vaccination against swine flu is available free for everyone over the age of six months for a few more weeks.
The seasonal flu vaccine is also available free to groups at greater risk of complications from the disease. These include pregnant women, Indigenous people over 15 years of age, anyone over 65 and anyone over 6 months of age with chronic medical conditions.
Vaccination can be organised with your GP or your usual healthcare provider.
For further information go to http://www.health.nt.gov.au/Flu/index.aspx
Media inquiries: Bridget Wild 8999 2751 or 0401 116 144
