Yahoo Lifestyle Australian doctors warn killer flu virus is on it's way
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The virus killed a total of 20 children in the US in December and January and is expected to hit Australia within a few weeks.
The Australian Medical Association's Dr Steve Hambleton told News Limited that we need to be vigilant and that parents in particular should make sure children get vaccinated. He warns the virus could have devastating effects.
Influenza kills an average of 85 Australians every year but, according to Dr Hambleton, the H3N2 virus is a "killer flu" and those numbers could rise significantly during this year's flu season. Dr Hambleton also expressed concerns over the anti-vaccination debate having an effect on the spread of the virus, "Children are super-spreaders of the flu. An adult might spread the flu for a week, little kids will spread the flu for three weeks, school children will spread the flu for two weeks. We'd absolutely recommend that children get vaccinated", he told News Limited.
Experts are worried that the recent drop in child immunisation rates will affect the spread of the H3N2 virus this flu season and that children, pregnant women and those over 65 are the most at risk.
The Influenza Specialist Group says children are much more likely than adults to contract influenza in any given season (20-50 per cent, compared with 10-30 per cent in adults) and children under five are more likely than any other age group to be hospitalised for influenza - nearly 1,500 children every year, according to ABS statistics.
The Influenza Specialist Group advises that the best way to reduce the risk for children against influenza is to get them vaccinated.
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