Infuenza Specialist Group

Influenza - a guide

Vaccination against influenza safely and effectively reduces the risk of infection, and treatments are now available to alleviate the duration and severity of symptoms if infection occurs. Yet while Australia has made excellent progress in targeting those aged 65 and older, the majority of younger at-risk individuals remain unprotected.

These publications, from the Influenza Specialist Group, reviews current issues in the prevention and treatment of influenza - at a time when awareness of viral respiratory infections has been heightened by the occurrence of SARS and the recent spread of avian influenza, originating in South-East Asia and highlighting the threat of a potential worldwide pandemic.

 Influenza - a guide for general practitioners (2005) 238.55 Kb

 Influenza - a guide for pharmacists (2005) 258.42 Kb

  Influenza - a guide for occupational health professionals (2005) 226.51 Kb

Influenza vaccination among healthcare workers 

Although Australia has one of the highest rates of influenza immunisation in the world for people aged 65 or over, with almost 80% receiving the vaccine annually, vaccination rates among healthcare workers are far below that. In fact, anecdotal research reports immunisation rates of healthcare workers of 20%-50% across Australian healthcare institutions.

  Influenza vaccination among healthcare workers (2006) 1.52 Mb

Treatment of influenza in interpandemic periods 

Annual influenza epidemics cause significant illness and death each year in Australia, particularly among people aged 65 and over, the very young, or those with chronic cardiac illness, respiratory illness, diabetes or an immune deficiency. In fact, in an average year it is estimated that 1,500 Australians die, 20,000 - 40,000 are hospitalised and many more fall ill due to influenza. In the mid 1990s the total cost of influenza to the Australian economy was estimated to be around $600 million - costs which can be expected to be substantially higher now.

  Treatment of influenza in interpandemic periods (2006) 1.44 Mb