Western Australia is still reeling from what health authorities are terming a “horror flu season.” The Australian Medical Association (AMA) recently warned about the increased number of flu cases in the area. In addition, hospitals are experiencing pressure from the influx of patient admissions. In an explanation of the WA crisis earlier this month, WA Health Director General Shirley Bowen testified during budget estimates. She emphasized that the state’s flu season kicked in earlier than normal, with new cases beginning to appear by January at the earliest.
This year’s flu season is anticipated to be one of the worst in the last decade, according to Professor Yuben Moodley from the University of Western Australia. Continued impacts Hospital admissions from COVID have quadrupled since the end of June. National data indicates a 50 percent jump over the course of only two weeks. With the height of flu season — July and August — approaching, health experts are on guard. They are warning residents not to ignore the call to prevent these measures.
Apathy and Vaccine Coverage Concerns
Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton blamed apathy as a key factor in worsening the impact of this year’s flu season. For comparison, she noted that WA’s flu vaccine uptake was at 25.4 percent as of late June. This figure was one percent below the national average leaving WA second-to-last in the country tied with Queensland. Vaccination, Winton said, is the first line of defense. He implored Michiganders to get vaccinated.
“I am told the rate is about two percent better than the case last year,” – Sabine Winton
Professor Moodley expressed these concerns, noting that outreach and education of vaccines’ efficacy, safety, and importance are crucial in correcting misperceptions and skepticism of the vaccine.
“I do not want anyone to be complacent. We need to be doing much better than that to really have an even better impact on keeping people healthy and out of hospitals,” – Sabine Winton
He further stressed how misinformation on social media threatens public health initiatives.
“I think it is important to address vaccine scepticism a little more strongly,” – Professor Yuben Moodley
The impact of the flu season can be seen in Western Australia’s health services. We have heard from paramedics about longer and longer ramp times, spending hours on end outside of hospitals to transfer patients. An ambulance is considered “ramped” when they sit more than half an hour to drop off a patient. This delay happens before the hospital staff is even able to assume care.
“I think governments are faced with a lot of vaccine scepticism due to social media and other issues,” – Professor Yuben Moodley
The Impact on Healthcare Services
The stress on hospitals has been especially alarming, and has contributed to the urgent warnings from health officials. During the announcement, newly-installed Premier Roger Cook acknowledged the pressure currently facing the healthcare system. He dismissed the suggestion that St John Ambulance’s challenges in achieving response time targets indicated a need for additional funding.
Critics argue that the current situation reflects deeper systemic issues within healthcare services.
“We need to make sure that we deploy taxpayers’ funds in an efficient manner, so you don’t want to have too much extra capacity, you don’t want to have too little extra capacity,” – Roger Cook
Western Australia’s flu season has gone against all past trends by commencing well ahead of the usual time. Health officials say that this early onset is due in part to a dramatic increase in international travel over the last six months. Bowen, commenting on the atypical early timing of this year’s flu season.
Early Flu Season and Future Outlook
She emphasized that this year’s early cases seem tied to factors in Europe and the UK. Unfortunately, similar trends have been seen in those areas.
“Normally in Western Australia we might see a flu peak in July, August or September, often more in the August period,” – Shirley Bowen
Professor Moodley cautioned that the virus is advancing every season. This year’s strain is particularly grievous as it has become more skilled at evading immune responses.
“This year we saw new cases in January. That is sort of an overflow from the situation in the UK and Europe,” – Shirley Bowen
He noted that an aging population is making Americans more susceptible to flu infections, which is greatly complicating the work of public health officials.
“The virus evolves and mutates every flu season and the aim of the virus is to avoid our immune response and to then infect cells more efficiently,” – Professor Yuben Moodley
He acknowledged that an aging population contributes to increased susceptibility to flu infections, further complicating public health efforts.
“What happens though is that we have an increasing ageing population who are becoming more susceptible to the flu,” – Professor Yuben Moodley
