'Unusual' flu trend with South Australian cases to spike later than expected, health chief says
South Australian health officials report an unusual flu trend with cases peaking later than expected in August. Experts advise that it is not too late to receive a flu vaccination despite the shifting seasonal patterns.
Why it matters
Changing viral transmission patterns due to global travel and climate factors are complicating public health responses and seasonal immunity.
Flu cases are only starting to pick up in South Australia. ( ABC News: Kym Agius )
SA's Chief Public Health Officer says the number of flu cases in the state have only started to rise in the past few weeks as population immunity "wanes".
But an Adelaide doctor says other respiratory illnesses have kept health workers busy.
Health experts say it is not too late to ask for the flu jab, with cases expected to rise later than usual.
Link copied Share Share article An "unusual" flu trend will likely see more people sneezing and reaching for their tissues after the peak winter season, South Australia's health experts say.
SA's Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the number of flu cases have only just started picking up in the last few weeks in the state.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in