Latest news with #NationalNotifiableDiseasesSurveillanceSystem
Mercury
4 days ago
- Health
- Mercury
Chikungunya virus: Alarming surge in Chinese cases sparks global concern
There are fears a potentially deadly virus that has surged in China and spread to Hong Kong could explode globally. More than 7000 chikungunya virus infections have been reported in the city Foshan, leading to mass hospital quarantines and other measures similar to those taken during the Covid-19 pandemic. Nearly 3000 new cases have been reported in at least 12 other cities in Guangdong just over the past week, bringing the total to more than 10,000 in the country. Hong Kong confirmed its first case of the virus on Monday, a 12-year-old boy who developed symptoms after visiting Foshan in July. Here's what you need to know about the disease: HOW IS THE VIRUS TRANSMITTED? Chikungunya is caused by a virus carried by infected mosquitoes – including the Dengue mosquito and the Asian Tiger mosquito. The mosquito contracts the virus when it bites someone with chikungunya, it can then pass it on to other people it bites a few days later, according to healthdirect. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS? Symptoms usually manifest within three to seven days after a bite from an infected mosquito, but it can take up to 12 days, according to healthdirect. Common symptoms include joint pain, joint swelling and stiffness, and fever. Other symptoms can include muscle pain, headache, a rash, nausea, and tiredness. HOW LONG DOES THE VIRUS LAST? Most people fully recover within one to two weeks, although some may have symptoms such as joint pain and tiredness for several months or even years, according to healthdirect. Deaths are rare, but some severe complications involving the heart and nervous system do occasionally occur – especially in older people affected by other health conditions. IS THE VIRUS CURABLE? There is no specific cure for chikungunya, but anti-inflammatory medicines, paracetamol, or acetaminophen, are used to address symptoms by providing pain relief and reducing fever, according to the World Health Organisation. SHOULD AUSTRALIA BE CONCERNED? Chikungunya is recognised as a nationally notifiable mosquito-borne disease in Australia, but there are no local reports of transmission, according to a Department of Health, Disability and Ageing spokesperson. They also stated: *Human cases of mosquito-borne illness are monitored using the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). *The infection is regularly reported in travellers returning from overseas. *Chikungunya is primarily transmitted by vectors Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti established in some parts of the Torres Strait and Australia. Ongoing public health and vector control measures by state and territory jurisdictions include follow-up of notifications in humans, surveillance and control of Ae. Albopictus and Ae. Aegypti in parts of the Torres Strait and mainland Australia. *The interim Australian CDC continues to monitor mosquito-borne diseases in countries geographically close to Australia and those frequently visited by Australian residents. *It also actively tracks current international outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as chikungunya in China. While assuring that the chance of an outbreak in Australia was 'low', ANU infectious diseases specialist Dr Sanjaya Senanayake said there were concerns around the Aedes mosquito in northern Australia. 'It is possible for someone carrying the Chikungunya virus in their blood to arrive in central or northern Queensland from overseas, get bitten by an Aedes mosquito here, which in turn causes a case of Chikungunya in a local, who hasn't left Australia,' Dr Senanayake told 'This happens sometimes with dengue outbreaks (another virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, where the virus itself isn't endemic to Australia).' HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE THE VIRUS? If you feel unwell and have a fever after travelling to a tropical area, it is best to see your doctor if you have symptoms of chikungunya or if you are concerned, according to healthdirect. Your doctor can then examine you and perform a blood test to confirm if you have the disease. Symptoms can be similar to many other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus – so the blood test is key to diagnosis. WHAT IS THE TRAVEL ADVICE FOR CHINA? The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level 2 travel notice for those going to China. The notice advices travellers to 'practice enhanced precautions' and urged them to get vaccinated before going. While a vaccine called Ixchiq has been approved in the United States, it is not yet available in Australia. The main preventive measure for Australians is to avoid mosquito bites when travelling to regions where chikungunya is prevalent. HOW IS CHINA ADDRESSING THE OUTBREAK? Chinese soldiers are treating public spaces with insecticides and 'elephant mosquitoes' who's larvae can eat the infected mosquitoes larvae have been released. Mosquito-eating fish have also been released into Foshan's public ponds to address the mosquito population. Originally published as Chikungunya virus: Alarming surge in Chinese cases sparks global concern
The Advertiser
31-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Low vaccine rates see flu cases rise, putting vulnerable people at risk
This year's flu season is shaping up to be one for the ages if current influenza case numbers are anything to go by - and low flu vaccination rates could be to blame. Figures from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System show there have been more than 80,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases recorded across Australia in the year to May 19, representing about a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year. At the same time, flu vaccination rates are alarmingly low. Despite being part of a high-risk group, only 11.7 per cent of children aged between six months and five years old have received a flu vaccine this year. People aged 65 and over are another high-risk cohort at risk of serious complications from influenza. But data shows less than half (46.9 per cent) of this group are covered for the upcoming winter months. Dr Ramya Raman, vice-president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said people may be reluctant to get the flu vaccine due to fatigue surrounding vaccines in recent years. "There is a level of vaccine hesitancy that we are seeing, and it's primarily related to a sense of exhaustion," she said. But Dr Raman said flu vaccination is still very important, not just for your own health, but the health of those around you. "It's well proven in effectiveness," she said. "It not only protects patients, it also protects their families, their communities. And it makes a huge difference from having good herd immunity." The updated flu vaccine for the 2025 season is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it targets four separate strains. The following groups can access flu vaccines for free through their pharmacist or GP: If you are part of one of these high-risk groups, it's best to seek advice from your regular GP or medical practitioner before receiving a vaccine. This year's flu season is shaping up to be one for the ages if current influenza case numbers are anything to go by - and low flu vaccination rates could be to blame. Figures from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System show there have been more than 80,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases recorded across Australia in the year to May 19, representing about a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year. At the same time, flu vaccination rates are alarmingly low. Despite being part of a high-risk group, only 11.7 per cent of children aged between six months and five years old have received a flu vaccine this year. People aged 65 and over are another high-risk cohort at risk of serious complications from influenza. But data shows less than half (46.9 per cent) of this group are covered for the upcoming winter months. Dr Ramya Raman, vice-president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said people may be reluctant to get the flu vaccine due to fatigue surrounding vaccines in recent years. "There is a level of vaccine hesitancy that we are seeing, and it's primarily related to a sense of exhaustion," she said. But Dr Raman said flu vaccination is still very important, not just for your own health, but the health of those around you. "It's well proven in effectiveness," she said. "It not only protects patients, it also protects their families, their communities. And it makes a huge difference from having good herd immunity." The updated flu vaccine for the 2025 season is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it targets four separate strains. The following groups can access flu vaccines for free through their pharmacist or GP: If you are part of one of these high-risk groups, it's best to seek advice from your regular GP or medical practitioner before receiving a vaccine. This year's flu season is shaping up to be one for the ages if current influenza case numbers are anything to go by - and low flu vaccination rates could be to blame. Figures from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System show there have been more than 80,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases recorded across Australia in the year to May 19, representing about a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year. At the same time, flu vaccination rates are alarmingly low. Despite being part of a high-risk group, only 11.7 per cent of children aged between six months and five years old have received a flu vaccine this year. People aged 65 and over are another high-risk cohort at risk of serious complications from influenza. But data shows less than half (46.9 per cent) of this group are covered for the upcoming winter months. Dr Ramya Raman, vice-president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said people may be reluctant to get the flu vaccine due to fatigue surrounding vaccines in recent years. "There is a level of vaccine hesitancy that we are seeing, and it's primarily related to a sense of exhaustion," she said. But Dr Raman said flu vaccination is still very important, not just for your own health, but the health of those around you. "It's well proven in effectiveness," she said. "It not only protects patients, it also protects their families, their communities. And it makes a huge difference from having good herd immunity." The updated flu vaccine for the 2025 season is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it targets four separate strains. The following groups can access flu vaccines for free through their pharmacist or GP: If you are part of one of these high-risk groups, it's best to seek advice from your regular GP or medical practitioner before receiving a vaccine. This year's flu season is shaping up to be one for the ages if current influenza case numbers are anything to go by - and low flu vaccination rates could be to blame. Figures from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System show there have been more than 80,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases recorded across Australia in the year to May 19, representing about a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year. At the same time, flu vaccination rates are alarmingly low. Despite being part of a high-risk group, only 11.7 per cent of children aged between six months and five years old have received a flu vaccine this year. People aged 65 and over are another high-risk cohort at risk of serious complications from influenza. But data shows less than half (46.9 per cent) of this group are covered for the upcoming winter months. Dr Ramya Raman, vice-president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said people may be reluctant to get the flu vaccine due to fatigue surrounding vaccines in recent years. "There is a level of vaccine hesitancy that we are seeing, and it's primarily related to a sense of exhaustion," she said. But Dr Raman said flu vaccination is still very important, not just for your own health, but the health of those around you. "It's well proven in effectiveness," she said. "It not only protects patients, it also protects their families, their communities. And it makes a huge difference from having good herd immunity." The updated flu vaccine for the 2025 season is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it targets four separate strains. The following groups can access flu vaccines for free through their pharmacist or GP: If you are part of one of these high-risk groups, it's best to seek advice from your regular GP or medical practitioner before receiving a vaccine.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Chilling figure amid horror flu season
Peak flu season is about to hit Australia and cases are already 30 per cent higher compared to the same time last year. A record number of cases have been reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, and the rates were higher than what authorities saw during Covid. CSL Seqirus medical director Jules Bayliss said more than 58,000 cases of influenza had been recorded this year across all age groups, but the greatest number were in children. She said despite vaccinations being free for children aged under five through the National Immunisation Program, vaccination rates in recent years had been lower than what they would like in children. 'We're seeing rates of flu notifications that are higher than what we saw for Covid across nearly every age group,' Dr Bayliss said. 'Typically, children come into contact and are more likely to transmit than other age groups. 'Things we do as adults to reduce the risk of flu, like getting a vaccination, washing hands, staying home when you're unwell, can be more challenging with children.' Dr Bayliss said people often underestimated how serious the flu could be, which was different to a cold. 'It's a disease that can leave you in bed for a number of days feeling really unwell with fever, muscle aches, and a more severe full body infection than a simple cold,' she said. 'Most people have a number of days off then they return to work or school. 'Other people can end up with really serious disease that leaves them ending up in hospital. 'But we are also seeing that people are not getting vaccinated against influenza.' Dr Bayliss said while the flu vaccine was more available and accessible than ever before, it had been challenging to re-engage with people to get vaccinated following the pandemic. She said CSL had manufactured and released more than seven million vaccine doses to pharmacies and GPs across the nation ahead of flu season. They use a process led by the World Health Organisation to annually update the strains that are in the vaccines, which gives them the best chance of protection against strains that are circulating. 'Typically, the peak of the flu season occurs in late winter or early spring, but every year is a little bit different,' she said. 'It's different depending on the viruses themselves that are circulating, how readily they transmit between individuals, which populations they're circulating in, and which of the individual viruses is dominating in any particular year. 'It becomes really difficult to predict what next year's flu season will look like based on this years.' She said with the Easter holiday period and an increase in flu circulating, it was expected more cases would occur and now was the time to get vaccinated. 'There are cohorts that are covered under the National Immunisation Program that applies across the country to under fives,, over 65s and people that have an underlying medical condition,' she said. 'Free vaccines are only provided in some states, but for everybody else, they can access flu vaccines through their GP or pharmacy.' Australian chief medical officer Anthony Lawler said influenza was the most common vaccine-preventable disease in Australia. The professor said while they could not predict this year's flu season, they could learn from data collected last year which showed children aged under nine had the highest notification rates, but had a low vaccine uptake. 'In 2024, there were more deaths involving influenza and RSV than in 2023,' he said. 'This is an important reminder that influenza, RSV and Covid are not the common cold. 'These are very serious viruses that can cause severe illness, hospitalisation and even death among otherwise healthy children and adults.' Professor Lawler said so far in 2025, there had been a higher proportion of influenza B cases than seen at this time in recent years, particularly in school-aged children and young adults. 'Influenza B is often more common in children, and can result in more severe infections in children,' he said. 'The good news is that all the influenza vaccines available in Australia cover both influenza A and B, making the seasonal influenza vaccine very effective at protecting people from needing to go to hospital or visit their GP due to complications from influenza.' He recommended everyone from the age of six months get vaccinated against influenza every year, and encouraged pregnant women to get vaccinated against RSV and whooping cough and people over 65 years to get regular Covid vaccinations.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Get vaccinated': Cases surge in Australia
Australians have been urged to get a flu vaccination as cases surge across the country, almost doubling in one state. The National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System reported there had been more than 46,300 cases across Australia this year to the end of March, an increase of about 50 per cent from last year. The report showed 67 people in Queensland had been hospitalised with influenza and another 900 were diagnosed in one week. More than 10,000 flu cases have been reported in Victoria with numbers continuing to rise and were almost double the amount of cases compared to the same time last year. Victorian chief health officer Tarun Weeramanthri told Nine, April was the best month to receive a vaccination ahead of the peak flu season in June and July. 'It does take a couple of weeks before those antibodies come into your body and give you that protection – so you'll get peak protection if you go out and get vaccinated now,' he said. An Australian Health Department spokesman said the flu was particularly dangerous for babies, young children and people with underlying medical conditions and a vaccine was available to people aged over six months. 'It can require hospitalisation and can cause death,' a spokesman said. 'Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and your family from serious disease caused by influenza.' Flu vaccines are given each year to protect people against the most common strains of the virus. It is recommended children aged 6 months to five years, pregnant women, people aged over 65 and people with a medical condition get vaccinated.
