Latest news with #fluSeason
ABC News
7 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Here are the current rules on isolating when you're sick this flu season
I don't know about you, but the times of having to quarantine due to COVID-19 feel like a distant memory. But around this time each year, we're reminded that the virus is still active, as are many other serious respiratory illnesses during "flu season". There have been more than 65,000 cases of COVID-19 so far this year nationwide, more than 81,000 Influenza cases and 50,000 cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), according to the Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also designated a new strain known as NB.1.8.1, which is now the dominant variant in China and Hong Kong, as a "variant under monitoring". So, what has changed when it comes to quarantine rules? And do you still have to isolate if you or a family member has a respiratory illness? Advanced epidemiologist Anne Maree Baldwin says we're in a different situation now than five years ago when COVID-19 first arrived in Australia. "We had a new virus in a population without immunity, which was expected to have devastating impacts," says the public health expert from the Sunshine Coast/Kabi Kabi lands. "But now all or almost all of the population has some immunity to COVID through vaccination and having the disease." We are no longer required by law to quarantine or isolate when we have COVID-19. But Ms Baldwin says it is recommended. "Stay home and away from others when you have symptoms, irrespective of whether it's COVID or another respiratory illness," she says. "If you must go out, we ask people to wear a mask, avoid indoor or crowded situations, and keep away from others as best you can." Dr Libby Sander is an associate professor of organisational behaviour at Bond University on the Gold Coast/Kombumerri. She says there has been a culture shift since the pandemic back to a place where some employees feel obligated to go back to work even if they're unwell. "I'm often hearing [about instances] where people are being expected to go to work when they're sick because of staff shortages or they just feel obliged to go in because of the workload. "If you are sick, you shouldn't go to work, no-one wants you to make them sick." You can be infectious with respiratory illness from up to 48 hours before your symptoms start. So, if you've had a loved one or housemate at home who's been unwell, should you go to work? Ms Baldwin says it comes down to organisational policy. "Just communicating first and foremost, so everyone's aware," she says. "In general, quarantine isn't needed if exposed to COVID, we just ask that you stay away from others if you develop symptoms." She says it's particularly important to avoid people more likely to get severely sick, including immunocompromised people, older people, infants, and pregnant women. Dr Sander says working from home arrangements can provide people with security and flexibility. "If you're not really unwell you can keep working, you're not worrying about infecting other people … so I think flexibility is really important." In general, you don't automatically need to take a rapid antigen tests (RAT) after being around someone who's been sick. But it is recommended if you start developing symptoms or are planning on visiting a high-risk setting like aged care facilities, disability care, hospitals, or other healthcare settings. Ms Baldwin says testing is important for people who are either very sick or need antiviral medicine. "We have the RAT tests and they're widely available now in supermarkets and pharmacies, often for about $10," she says. "Some can test for four viruses, Influenza strains A and B, COVID and RSV. "The RATs are helpful for a quick result, which is important when the COVID and influenza antiviral should be started in a day or two of symptom onset." A diagnosis for whooping cough requires a PCR test (polymerase chain reaction) from a GP to receive the necessary antibiotics. Chief medical officer at Healthdirect Australia, Nirvana Luckraj, says if you have tested positive for respiratory illness, "you should stay at home until all of your acute symptoms have gone". She says acute symptoms include sneezing, coughing and a sore throat. "If you still have acute symptoms like a cough after seven days, you may still be infectious. You should continue to wear a mask and physically distance whenever possible." Our experts say it's important to prepare yourself each year. "We see COVID waves and whooping cough at any time of the year and most RSV is actually at this time of year," Ms Baldwin says. "So being prepared is important and the best way to do that is vaccinate." You can get both the COVID and influenza vaccines at the same appointment — the Australian Department of Health advises that it is safe to do this and doctors and pharmacists will now allow this. This is general information only. For personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner.
News24
03-06-2025
- Business
- News24
This flu season, keep your employees safe and prevent your business from falling ill
As early as April, the dreaded 2024 influenza season will start, reaching its most severe period generally between May and August1. Besides the physical symptoms and risks that flu poses to the general population, especially those people in higher risk groups, the cost of influenza on businesses can be significant, impacting productivity, employee absenteeism, healthcare expenses, and overall profitability2. Despite an effective influenza vaccine having been available for many years, flu continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality both in South Africa and worldwide1, and has a detrimental effect on businesses, both directly and indirectly2. Statistics released by Human Capital Review estimate that absenteeism could cost South Africa as much as R19.144 billion annually3, with flu accounting for 4.5 million days of absenteeism from work every year2. Office environments have many so-called 'flu hot spots', including the elevators, stair railing, bathroom door, printers or even the kettle or fridge. Flu spreads easily from person to person through droplet distribution when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or through hand-to-hand contact. In a work environment, where people are in close contact with each other, it is more likely for the flu virus to spread and infect other people too, who in turn can pass their flu onto their families and other people they come into contact with4. This is becoming even more relevant as many workers return to the office post the COVID pandemic, with 76% of local CEOs preferring workers being back in the office full-time5. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, seasonal flu results in between 6 000 and 11 000 people in South Africa dying as a result of complications every year6. High risk individuals are also more at risk come flu season, and include the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, lung disease, tuberculosis and heart disease6. With businesses in South Africa already faced with numerous challenges including loadshedding, rising inflation and high energy prices7, making the flu vaccine available to employees or implementing a corporate flu vaccine programme not only benefits your business, but is an important step towards protecting the health and safety of your employees8. In fact, vaccinated employees can serve as a barrier to limit the spread of influenza and can reduce the transmission rate by as much as 78%8. Besides being vaccinated, which is the most effective way to prevent flu8, anyone who suspects they have flu should stay home from work at least 4-5 days after the onset of symptoms, and are at their most contagious during the first 3 days of their illness9. The flu vaccine, although not 100% effective, remains the best available form of protection against influenza1. Those who have been vaccinated will also experience reduced symptoms, fewer visits to the clinic or doctor, reduced sick leave, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalisations6. Companies are urged to consider implementing a company vaccination programme as this is the most effective pre-emptive measure to protect your business, and your employees, this winter8. References: 1. National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Flu Season is Around the Corner (2019) at (website accessed on 30 January 2024) 2. Tempia, S et al. Health and economic burden of influenza-associated illness in South Africa, 2013-2015. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2019 Sep; 13(5): 484–495 at (website accessed on 11 December 2023) 3. The True Cost of Absenteeism in the workplace. People Factor Magazine (2022) at ( (website accessed on 11 December 2023) 4. Flu or Cold? Genesis Medical Scheme (2016) at (website accessed on 15 February 2024) 5. KPMG - CEO Outlook South African edition: Potential growth in uncertain times (2022) at (website accessed on 15 February 2023) 6. National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Influenza Season Approaching (2018) at (website accessed on 30 January 2024) 7. International Monetary Fund. South Africa's Economy Loses Momentum Amid Record Power Cuts (2023) at (website accessed on 11 December 2023) 8. Verelst, F. Science Direct. Workplace influenza vaccination to reduce employee absenteeism: An economic analysis from the employers' perspective (2021) at (website accessed on 11 December 2023) 9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing the Spread of Flu in the Workplace (2021) at (website accessed on 15 February 2023)
ABC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
St John Ambulance WA records worst ambulance ramping figures for May
The Australian Medical Association has warned record levels of ambulance ramping could lead to increased deaths among patients waiting for emergency care, as Western Australia faces its worst flu season in at least three years. St John Ambulance data shows last month was the worst May on record for ambulance ramping, with patients spending 5,333 hours parked outside WA hospitals. Ramping occurs any time an ambulance spends more than 30 minutes waiting outside a hospital for their patient to be received. The previous record for May was 5,258 hours in 2022, at the tail-end of the COVID pandemic. During May last year, ambulances spent 4,837 hours ramped outside of hospitals. It comes as WA faces its worst flu season since at least 2022, which could put extra pressure on hospitals, with 6,983 influenza cases already reported to WA Health so far this year. Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Page said that was a concern for doctors. "We know that the longer a patient is waiting for emergency department care, the higher the chance of death," he said. "There's a lot of good international evidence about that and there's no reason to think things would be any different here." Dr Page attributed the issues to long-term pressures in the health system, most acutely a shortage of hospital beds and doctors and nurses. The main short-term solution, he said, was increasing WA's vaccination rates. Data from the Australian Immunisation Register shows Western Australia has the lowest flu vaccination rate of all states with only 19 per cent of sandgropers vaccinated this year. "That is a role for our new Preventative Health Minister, whose portfolio includes vaccination," Dr Page said. "So we would like to see strong action from government on researching the reasons that people are declining to be vaccinated and addressing those problems head on." The WA government has promised hundreds of millions of dollars to address ramping pressures, including expanding its Virtual Emergency Department program which aims to divert patients from EDs. Asked about the current level of ramping, Premier Roger Cook also pointed to election commitments to upgrade emergency departments at Royal Perth and Midland hospitals. "We continue to make sure that we grow hospital beds, and the staff that stand by them, so that's an important part of it," he said. "Ultimately we need better flow of patients, so that's one of the reasons we have our $100 million aged care support package. "And of course we want to make sure that we have a healthy population, which means that we need to continue to encourage the federal government to grow urgent care clinics and the opportunities to get primary care." Dr Page said while those measures would help, there was no avoiding the need to build more beds. "So building more ED beds might, in the short term, improve the EDs ability to see patients coming in through the front door, sure, but it doesn't solve the problem that patients are still waiting in our EDs for beds on the wards." Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said the issues showed the government had the wrong priorities and urged it to outline what its "surge plan" was to deal with increased demand. "The Cook Labor government need to outline that plan and outline how they will better support and incentivise our health workers to ensure we have the staff that we need, that there are reforms in place to better support our emergency departments," she said. "They need to make health a priority, they need to ensure that there is a surge plan ahead of winter and ensure that our emergency departments and our health services across the community have the support that they require to ensure lives will not be lost. Dr Page said he was unsure what a surge plan would look like. "Hospitals are routinely over 100 per cent capacity because the wards are full and there are patients waiting in corridors for proper ward beds," he said. "So where is surge capacity going to come from when you're running at over one hundred per cent capacity already?"
