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July 2011
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Peak of 2011 flu season is imminent
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The Influenza Specialist Group has just issued a press release, warning that increasing rates of influenza have been confirmed in several regions around Australia, and that the continuing trend indicates that the peak flu season is rapidly approaching. However, there is still time for people, especially those in at-risk groups and those around them, to protect themselves by vaccination.
The ISG recommends that people in at-risk groups and healthy Australians who wish to avoid infection, see their GP and seek vaccination now in order to protect themselves and avoid passing the infection on to others. And while vaccination is the most effective way to prevent catching influenza, if you do contract influenza there are antiviral medications available on prescription that can shorten the length and reduce the severity of the illness. However these must be taken within the first two days of onset of symptoms.
The full press release can be found here: Flu Alert
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Flu surveillance
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The ISG has introduced a surveillance page to its website. Influenza activity from Australia and New Zealand is monitored, and the information summarised to enable a quick evaluation of the emerging flu activity.
The current data shows that flu activity is elevated in New Zealand, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, and has precipitated the announcement that the peak of the season is imminent.
See the surveillance report here: Flu Surveillance
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Can healthcare workers afford the flu?
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The increasing flu activity is a timely reminder of how important it is for healthcare workers to be vaccinated.
 The ISG has a new video production on its website entitled Can you afford the flu? It features a number of healthcare specialists including Professor Robert Booy (Head of Research, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases), Dr Dominic Dwyer (medical virologist), and explains why it is so important for healthcare workers to be vaccinated.
The ISG’s YouTube Channel, Flutube 100 continues to be very popular. There are now a total of 13 of the talking head video clips, with more to come.
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Translations
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The ISG’s consumer brochure entitled HELP STOP THE SPREAD, and the related posters have been enormously popular, with almost 150,000 of the former and 10,000 each of the latter being distributed to GP practices, hospitals, and community health centres around Australia.
The brochure has subsequently been re-formatted into fact-sheet style, and has been translated into 13 different languages. The languages include Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Dinka, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Karen, Korean, Persian, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese. The translated information has also been distributed widely, including ethnic community centres and multicultural community councils in each State.
The translations can be obtained from the ISG’s office, or can be downloaded as pdfs from the ISG’s website here: Translations
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Risk assessment tool
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 An influenza risk assessment tool has been designed by the ISG to assist the community in assessing their risk of contracting influenza and of suffering serious consequences should they contract influenza. It is intended to be used as a guide only and you should consult your doctor regarding vaccination and take this checklist along with you to your appointment.
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