Some comparative flu figures

[RooFlyer]

The local paper (paywalled) has a story with this year Vs previous flu figures for Tasmania and nationally (so far).

* Nationally there were just 229 laboratory-confirmed cases recorded across Australia in April, compared to more than 18,700 last year.

* Tasmania is following the national trend with rates here also down almost 80 per cent. The state recorded 155 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu between January 1 and May 3, compared to 681 last year.

* Last year Australia recorded its worst flu season on record with more than 310,000 people struck down. Locally the rate of infection was three times higher in 2019 than the year before.

* Australia’s flu season peaks in winter, but cases usually start to build earlier as travellers from the northern hemisphere bring the virus into the country.

 

[jb747]

I wonder what the real rates are? Last time I had flu I didn’t go anywhere near a doctor. Or anyone else.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I wonder what the real rates are? Last time I had flu I didn’t go anywhere near a doctor. Or anyone else.

Well no one knows, for like you not everyone presents.

But laboratory confirmed flu numbers are here:
May 2020 197 vs May 2019 30,372 !!!!
April 2020 307 vs April 2019 18,667

You can see every month and previous years by table and graph

https://www.immunisationcoalition.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1Jun-Aust-Flu-Stats-2020.pdf

 

[Pushka]

Well no one knows, for like you not everyone presents.

But laboratory confirmed flu numbers are here:
May 2020 197 vs May 2019 30,372 !!!!
April 2020 307 vs April 2019 18,667

You can see every month and previous years by table and graph

https://www.immunisationcoalition.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1Jun-Aust-Flu-Stats-2020.pdf

I'd expect everyone having respiratory symptoms, especially the flu symptoms, would be getting themselves tested these days. But not likely in normal flu years.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I'd expect everyone having respiratory symptoms, especially the flu symptoms, would be getting themselves tested these days. But not likely in normal flu years.

Well presumably there are a lot less less people with flu symptoms, cold symptoms etc this flu season. Covid 19 does have its advantages.

 

[Pushka]

Well presumably there are a lot less less people with flu symptoms, cold symptoms etc this flu season. Covid 19 does have its advantages.

I was commenting similarly today as we topped up at Dans. . The perspex barriers are good. The Hand sanitisers everywhere are good.

 

[Ace3162]

A good read on the topic from the Royal College of GPs.

Physical distancing and good hand hygiene: Australian flu cases drop by more than 99%

There were only 208 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza nationwide last month – compared to 30,567 at the same time in 2019.

www1.racgp.org.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

A good read on the topic from the Royal College of GPs.

Physical distancing and good hand hygiene: Australian flu cases drop by more than 99%

There were only 208 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza nationwide last month – compared to 30,567 at the same time in 2019.

www1.racgp.org.au

The comments from a number of doctors are interesting and confirm my suspicion that part of the drop off is due to less people being tested as the labs were too busy with Covid 19 testing.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The comments from a number of doctors are interesting and confirm my suspicion that part of the drop off is due to less people being tested as the labs were too busy with Covid 19 testing.

Possibly but it’s still very easy to screen for Flu with hospital presentations. We have been actively doing it. Just not seeing the numbers right now.
Meanwhile the Covid screening clinic next door was packed out today Public Holiday Monday.
Might be a few with an extended time off waiting for the results

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Meanwhile the Covid screening clinic next door was packed out today Public Holiday Monday.

Though while that clinic was busy, NSW as a whole today was on the low side compared to the average over the last month.
Mon 8 Jun 5,950 tests

Daily Tests Conducted and Results - COVID Live

Live tracking of coronavirus cases, active, tests, deaths, ICU, hospitalisations and vaccinations in NSW

covidlive.com.au

Ditto for Australia:

Daily Tests Conducted and Results - COVID Live

Live tracking of coronavirus cases, active, tests, deaths, ICU, hospitalisations and vaccinations in Australia

covidlive.com.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Possibly but it’s still very easy to screen for Flu with hospital presentations. We have been actively doing it. Just not seeing the numbers right now.

Yes the figures are dramatically lower for the laboratory confirmed tests, and so the "busy" would only be a small slice of the drop off.

 

[oz_mark]

The comments from a number of doctors are interesting and confirm my suspicion that part of the drop off is due to less people being tested as the labs were too busy with Covid 19 testing.

Maybe, but I'm not seeing people around with sniffles, and coughs and all the sort of things you normally see around at this time of year

In WA they have been reporting a whole lot of diseases have fallen away. Measles (mostly imported apparently) are zero, STDs have fallen off, and so on.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Telling everyone to stay home for 4 weeks; wash your hands don't go out if you are sick.

What I do find annoying is that if I was feeling unwell maybe it was cool weather or other seasonal type allergies.

 

[Denali]

I commented that my car dealership waiting room (which is the most occupied space Ive been in since March 17th with a total of 20 people inc staff) was surprisingly free of coughs and sniffles. Considering this time of year people are walking petri dishes of lurgies, it was a pleasant change.

 

[VPS]

https://denden.shinyapps.io/MapApp/

I hope everyone has joined Flu tracking https://info.flutracking.net/ You get a survey once a week that takes less than a minute to fill in and they don't spam you with other mail

 

[drron]

And in the hospital here every Covid swab done is also tested for flu and other respiratory viruses.Exceptionally small numbers of those.

 

[blackcat20]

Maybe, but I'm not seeing people around with sniffles, and coughs and all the sort of things you normally see around at this time of year

Meanwhile in our house we're four to five colds in already this year. Daycare

 

[Pushka]

Meanwhile in our house we're four to five colds in already this year. Daycare

Yep. Junior in the family has just started last week. Covid tests over the weekend. All clear. Number 1 cold done and dusted.

 

[docjames]

The following is free to “join” and you submit data each week - takes literally less than a minute to submit every monday about the week just gone.

Flutracking.net | Tracking respiratory illness across Australia and New Zealand

Flutracking is an online health surveillance system used to detect epidemics of influenza across Australia and New Zealand,

info.flutracking.net

and produces reports which are publicly available (eg. First page attached).

 

[VPS]

The following is free to “join” and you submit data each week - takes literally less than a minute to submit every monday about the week just gone.

Flutracking.net | Tracking respiratory illness across Australia and New Zealand

Flutracking is an online health surveillance system used to detect epidemics of influenza across Australia and New Zealand,

info.flutracking.net

and produces reports which are publicly available (eg. First page attached).

See Post 15