SYDNEY: The health authorities in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) today warned of rising influenza cases and hospitalisations among children and teenagers, urging parents to have their kids, those aged five to 16, vaccinated, reported Xinhua.
NSW Health chief, Kerry Chant, said the latest data is concerning, with a 37 per cent increase in Emergency Department (ED) presentations with influenza-like illnesses and a 30 per cent increase in admissions to hospital in the week to Sunday compared to the previous week.
She said children under 16 represented 54 per cent of all ED presentations for influenza-like illnesses, and over a third of hospital admissions were due to such cases in the past week.
Since May, there have been 16 children admitted to the intensive care with life-threatening complications from influenza and the numbers are rising.
"In recent weeks, we have seen influenza cases rising among very young children, as well as those aged five to 16, with these two age groups accounting for around half of the flu cases diagnosed in NSW each week," said Chant.
She said the very best thing parents can do is to ensure their children receive a flu vaccine if they haven't.-- Bernama
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