There have been 80 cases of the flu confirmed in the Top End since the beginning of November, with over 40 per cent of the cases needing hospitalisation.
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According to Centre for Disease Control Dr Peter Markey, the outbreak has come at an unusually late time of year and is urging Territorians to get vaccinated.
While the virus has been found in remote NT communities, there have been no confirmed cases in Katherine.
“It appears that so far this outbreak has not affected the Katherine Region, however CDC will continue to monitor the situation in the coming weeks,” Dr Markey said.
Dr Markey confirmed the outbreak is a H1N1 virus, similar to swine flu, an influenza pandemic that lasted from early 2009 to late 2010.
He said while it was important to realise the outbreak was the H1N1 virus, the virus had changed over the years.
“The swine flu came out in 2009 and since then it has changed subtly every year since.
“It is a different virus from the 2009 one but it is nevertheless the H1N1 and it looks like we are having an outbreak at the moment,” Dr Markey said.
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Dr Markey stressed that it was very unusual to see an outbreak in the Top End in November.
“Sometimes when we get an outbreak in September or October there is some continuation of the outbreak through to November but to actually start an outbreak in November is unusual,” he said.
Currently the severity and the spread of the virus has not yet been confirmed, Dr Markey said, but the virus had been found in remote Indigenous communities as well as the suburbs of Darwin.
“We have had cases in East Arnhem Land as well. It has been across the Top End and we will just have to wait and see if it spreads,” he said.
Dr Markey said it was unlikley the virus would spread to the Centre of Australia.
While records show that vaccinations are up this year, it is still important for Territorians to be up-to-date.
“You might remember we had quite a big flu season and that really encouraged people to get vaccinated this year,” he said.
Due to the unusual flu season start the virus could be sticking around for the next couple of months.
Dr Markey stressed it is not too late to get the vaccination.
“Watch out for the flu, if you are keen to get vaccinated get vaccinated particularly if you are part of that high-risk group,” he said.
“If you do get the flu try and isolate yourself, stay home. If you think you are really crook get to the doctor because there is treatment you can have.
“Wash your hands and cover up your cough.”
Vaccination is particularly important for those most likely to become seriously ill from flu, including pregnant women, anyone with a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, heart, kidney or lung diseases, Aboriginal people and the elderly.
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