The table below shows mortality due to influenza in 2016 and 2017 and the number of confirmed laboratory notifications through states and territory health authorities over the same period. And it wasnt because of increased, or more sensitive, testing. Sep 18, 2019 the 2019 flu season will suck for america just ask australia australians are sneezing and coughing and getting hospitalized. Sep 21, 2017 australia is suffering through one of its worst flu seasons in recent years, health officials there say. An estimated 80,000 americans died of flu and its complications last winter. The 20172018 flu season was severe for all us populations and resulted in an estimated 959,000 hospitalizations and 61,099 deaths.
In one study of the 2017 flu season a paltry 27% of australians were vaccinated 73 %. Deadly flu season has researchers racing to find out why. In the united states that season, nearly 49 million people got the flu or flu. Less than 10 percent of australian children get flu. Sep 03, 2017 australia is having a worse flu season than usual this year, with 93,711 laboratoryconfirmed cases as of august 18, almost 2.
Australian influenza surveillance report and activity updates. The 2017 2018 flu season was one of the deadliest in decades according to the cdc. In 2017, a terrible flu season in australia presaged an american outbreak in which 79000 died. Australia is in the grip of the worst flu outbreak on record and experts are urging people to have a flu vaccine now before its too late. Part of the reason for that, she says, is that the strain known as h1n1 has predominated. Heres why the 2017 flu season was so bad faculty of. While you can catch the flu at any time, its more likely to happen in the colder months of the year april to october. Influenza has been documented since january interseasonal period, with the season beginning in may and a rapid rise in cases in early june 2017. In 2017, australia had a very bad flu season, just like the u. A severe influenza season is continuing in australia as of september, but. The 2019 flu season will suck for america just ask australia. Flu season is off to an early start in australia the southern hemisphere country, which is just heading into winter, is having a particularly unusual flu season. Aug 14, 2018 the flu season for this year, for 2018, in australia has been very mild, says kanta subbarao, a virologist and physician in melbourne who is director of the world health organization who collaborating center for reference and research on influenza. Mar 23, 2018 in 2017, australia had a horror flu season, with nearly 1100 people dying and hundreds of thousands falling ill.
Australia on track for killer flu season as experts urge. Flu season deaths top 80,000 last year, cdc says cnn. Why australia wasnt ready for a dangerous flu season the. Now is the time for american to get their shots and brace for a really bad influenza season.
The 2017 2018 influenza season was a high severity season with high levels of outpatient clinic and emergency department visits for influenzalike illness ili, high influenzarelated hospitalization rates, and elevated and geographically widespread. About 300 people have died from the flu already this year more than double that in all of 2018. Australia has reported 98,000 confirmed cases of the flu. For the 2016 2017 influenza season, by late september, more than 90 million doses of 2016 2017 flu vaccine had already been distributed in the united states.
Low interim influenza vaccine effectiveness, australia, 1 may. Aug 18, 2019 this years flu season catches health authorities by surprise, starting earlier than usual and killing hundreds. Jun 20, 2019 t he 20182019 flu season may not have been as severe as the one that came before it, but it set a record of its own, the centers for disease control and prevention cdc say. A bad flu season in australia is serving as a warning sign for the u. Influenza in australia 2017 university of new south wales. Apr 10, 2019 health experts are warning australia is on track for a killer flu season, with numbers showing three times as many people have been diagnosed with the virus so far this year, compared to the same.
Flu season in 2017 the deadliest since records began. Faq on what people need to know about influenza, which was particularly bad in australia earlier this year. Us may be in for a deadly flu season after australias. Australia flu season bad, what does that mean for the us. As the flu season comes to an end, were beginning to. Aug 15, 2017 australia hit by worst flu outbreak on record in 2017 australia is in the grip of the worst flu outbreak on record and experts are urging people to have a flu vaccine now before its too late. Influenza activity updates may be published outside of the seasonal period. Vicious flu season claims 430 lives in australia newscomau. Australian influenza surveillance report 2017 season summary. Australia s last bad flu season was in 2017, which saw more than 229,000 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported by the end of october. In 2017, australia had a horror flu season, with nearly 1100 people dying and hundreds of thousands falling ill.
Heres why the 2017 flu season was so bad faculty of medicine. Heres why the 2017 flu season was so bad the conversation. Flu seasons also exist in the tropics and subtropics, but are usually less sharply defined. Australia has recorded 221,853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than any other year. Now researchers are racing to find out why the outbreak has been exceptional. In addition, the season started approximately one month earlier and the peak period of influenza was prolonged. As the flu season comes to an end, were beginning to understand why it was so bad. But experts believe australia s moderately bad season has probably hit its peak. Low interim influenza vaccine effectiveness, australia, 1 may to 24 september 2017 sheena g sullivan 1,2,3, monique b chilver 3, kylie s carville 4, yimo deng 1, kristina a grant 4, geoff higgins 5, naomi komadina 1, vivian ky leung 1, cara a minneysmith 6, don teng 7, thomas tran 4, nigel stocks 3, james e fielding 2,4. Jan 08, 2018 one of the strains circulating this year h3n2 has been dubbed aussie flu because it is the same strain that recently caused big problems for australia. Sep 19, 2017 melbourne, australia australias carefree attitude toward preventive medicine may have met its match. The flu season typically peaks in august, but laboratoryconfirmed cases of influenza have been higher than usual so far this year as have calls about. Australias 2018 flu season mild so far compared to 2017. Sep 25, 2017 how bad is the flu in 2017 in australia.
Influenza has been documented since january interseasonal period, with the season beginning in may and a rapid rise in cases in early june. In 2017, a terrible flu season in australia presaged an american outbreak in which 79,000 died. Australias last bad flu season was in 2017, which saw more than 229,000 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported by the end of. Flu season could be especially long and deadly this year. The 2017 flu season was the deadliest since records began. Australia has recorded 221853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than any other year. Flu deaths in australia hit 300 as experts describe flu. Australia hit by worst flu outbreak on record in 2017. Australias immunisation coalition reported 168,337 influenza cases so far in 2017. Queenslands flu season could top the prolonged 2017 outbreak with more than 3000 people struck down already in the first four months of the year. Nationally, the 2017 influenza season was the largest since the 2009 pandemic year. Scientists in australia have warned that the country is experiencing its worst flu season on record. Dec 05, 2019 in 2017, australia had a very bad flu season, just like the u. Sep 14, 2017 bad flu season in australia not a good sign for u.
Oct 09, 2019 australia, which is finishing its flu season, had an unusually early and initially severe season, beginning in april, two months earlier than usual, and lasting into october. Flu vaccine is produced by private manufacturers, so the timing of vaccine availability depends on when production is completed. Why australia wasnt ready for a dangerous flu season. Sep 26, 2018 2017 was the worst flu season the country has seen in years and many in the kansas city area have not escaped the influenza a and b viruses. Australian influenza surveillance report 2017 season summary key messages. Australia had its worst flu season to dateand the us could. Its normal for less than 60% of those vaccinated against the flu to develop a protective immune response. Deadly flu season has researchers racing to find out why this. What australias bad flu season means for europe, north america. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the united states between december and march.
The influenza a virus known as h3n2 was the most common strain in australia this past flu season. Flu is hitting us hard and there could be worse on the way sick people are being urged to stay home in a bid to contain a flu outbreak that may be the second most severe on. The country is reeling from a potent flu season that has had a historically. In australia, the flu season is considered may to october. Sep 22, 2019 australias last bad flu season was in 2017, which saw more than 229,000 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported by the end of october. Australia is in the grip of the worst flu outbreak on record and experts are urging people to have a flu vaccine.
Cases of flu in australia have dramatically fallen this year. Queensland flu season could eclipse 2017 epidemic sbs news. Nov 02, 2017 australia has recorded 221,853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than any other year. Aug 18, 2019 vicious flu season claims 430 lives in australia. Influenza incidence and mortality 2017 the national influenza surveillance committee reported that the 2017 influenza season recorded the highest levels of influenza activity since the 2009 swine flu pandemic niss, 2017. This years flu season catches health authorities by surprise, starting earlier than usual and killing hundreds. The flu season typically peaks in august, but laboratoryconfirmed cases of influenza have been higher than usual so far this year as have calls about flurelated symptoms to the healthdirect helpline. In the united states that season, nearly 49 million people got the flu or flulike symptoms, almost one. Since fluassociated deaths in children became a nationally notifiable condition in 2004, the total number of fluassociated deaths among children during one season has ranged from 37 during the 20112012 season to 186 during the 201718 season, as of april 19, 2019. The australian influenza surveillance report and activity updates are compiled from a number of data sources, which are used to monitor influenza activity and severity in the community. The 2017 flu season was australia s deadliest in 20 years and was followed by a similar one in the us. Australia prepares for 2018 flu season the new daily. The national influenza surveillance committee reported that the 2017 influenza season recorded the highest levels of influenza activity since the 2009 swine flu pandemic niss, 2017.
May 07, 2019 australia is headed for a bad flu season after a surge in cases in summer and autumn. A summary from the national influenza surveillance committee. The niss coordinates information during flu season from a number of. What australias bad flu season means for europe, north.
There was some variation across the country, with western australia not experiencing levels of influenza as high as the rest of australia. A severe influenza season is continuing in australia as of september, but with decreasing flu activity reported nationally towards the end of august and early september. The 2017 flu season put enormous strain on australias public hospitals, some cancelling elective surgeries. This is the highest number of patient claims since the 2009 flu season. The australian influenza surveillance report aisr is published on a fortnightly basis during the influenza season, typically between may and october. The flu season started early this year after a mild 2018, leading to significantly higher numbers of cases that are usually experienced by. Laboratory confirmed influenza is a notifiable disease in australia. The flu season started early this year after a mild one in 2018, leading to significantly higher numbers of influenza cases than usually experienced by this point. Why australia wasnt ready for a dangerous flu season a flu clinic in melbourne in 2009. Sep 24, 2019 the flu season in australia is seen as an indicator of whats in store for the us, and the country just had one of its worst seasons to date.