Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

Influenza activity is beginning to increase significantly and this is reflected in the graph below showing the rates of influenza-like illness in the community.

The number of calls to Healthline continues to increase, and last week 22.4% of all calls to Healthline were related to influenza-like illness. This is the highest rate this year, however, it is well below the 35.8% seen at this time last year, just after the peak of the 2009 pandemic wave.

The pandemic influenza strain is the predominant strain circulating this winter. In some areas, particularly those who were not greatly affected last year, are now being hit with high levels of illness in the community.

We are seeing higher levels of hospitalisation in areas that weren't severely affected last year.

There have been 58 people admitted to hospital reported in the last week with influenza type illness, bringing the total to 222 admitted to hospital this year.

Three DHBs have already reported higher rates of people hospitalised with influenza pandemic (H1N1) swine flu than they did last year - they are Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Taranaki. These DHBs had low hospitalisation rates last year.

DHBs with low rates last year which are seeing quite a lot of early influenza activity this year are Waikato, South Canterbury and MidCentral DHBs. Other DHBs with low rates last year were Otago, West Coast, Wairarapa, Whanganui, Nelson Marlborough and Southland.

At the other end of the scale we'd expect that Capital and Coast, Hutt and Tairawhiti DHBs to be hit less hard this year because they were hit hard last year.

A Christchurch woman is believed to be the fourth person to die of swine flu this year.

The 44-year-old, who had an underlying health condition, died last night in Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit.

Her death has been referred to the coroner.

A 38-year-old Wellington man also succumbed to swine flu yesterday, a week after he was admitted to Wellington Hospital's intensive care unit.

He was understood to have suffered from cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs.

The deaths follow those of a 51-year-old Northland man last month, and a 48-year-old Tauranga woman in June.

The H1N1 pandemic strain of the virus is the predominant flu strain circulating this winter.


More than 200 people have been hospitalised with swine flu this year, with nearly 60 admitted last week alone.

Ministry of Health public health director Mark Jacobs said last week regions which had not been hit hard by the virus last year were now reporting higher rates of the illness.

The Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Taranaki district health boards have reported higher swine flu hospitalisation rates than last year.

At least 35 people were confirmed to have died of swine flu last year, while more than 1000 were hospitalised.

The number of confirmed deaths could rise as coroners' findings are released.

Swine flu has claimed its first Christchurch victim this season.

A 44-year-old woman died on Sunday night after being admitted to Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit with respiratory problems.

She also had a chronic underlying condition.

The woman was the fourth person to die of swine flu in New Zealand this winter.

Her death had been referred to the coroner.

Her family requested that her name not be released.

A 38-year-old Wellington man, with cystic fibrosis, also died of swine flu at the weekend. A 51-year-old Northland man died last month, and a 48-year-old Tauranga woman died in June.

Canterbury medical officer of health Ramon Pink said swine-flu rates were accelerating.

There have been 79 swine-flu notifications in Canterbury, including 38 this month.

About 500 cases had been notified nationwide, and about half had needed hospital treatment, Pink said.

Areas hit harder by swine flu this year, such as South Canterbury, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki, had avoided the worst of last year's pandemic.

Clinical virologist Dr Lance Jennings said seasonal flu killed an average of 300 people each year, but claimed a different demographic.

Ninety per cent of seasonal influenza victims were the very young or the very elderly, he said, while swine flu claimed younger people who did not have residual protection from a similar flu strain that circulated in the late 1950s.

Jennings recommended that people still get the seasonal flu vaccine.

Swine flu numbers are not on the increase according to the Health Minister.

Four people have died this year from the virus and some areas are reporting more cases this year than last.

Tony Ryall says there's a very generous supply of Tamiflu available if it's needed.

"Doctors have rights to prescribe that to people as necessary - much more so than last year, but what we know is, because there's much wider immunity around the country, the numbers are well below where we were last year, but there is some regional variation."

Mr Ryall says people must remain vigilant and call the health line if they have any concerns.

Swine flu has hospitalised two Wairarapa people as health authorities continue to battle the regional pandemic.

Wairarapa DHB spokeswoman Jill Stringer said the two patients had been discharged but school absentee rates were still rising.

On Friday 1412 students were absent, meaning an average of 18.9 per cent compared to 17.2 per cent the day before.

Ms Stringer said while school closures had been considered last year there was no intention to do so this year.

``The only person who can close is the medical officer of health and her advice is that we won't be closing schools because it's hugely disruptive because parents have to take time off work and the kids just get together down at the park.''

On Sunday morning, August 8, a 38 year old Wellington man, who tested positive for H1N1 pandemic influenza (swine flu), sadly died in Wellington Hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

Clinical Leader for ICU Dr Shawn Sturland said the name of the man, who also had an underlying health condition, would not be released and asked that the media respect the family's privacy.

The man's death has been reported to the Duty Coroner and after discussion a decision was made that the treating Doctor would provide a certificate. As a result the Duty Coroner did not take jurisdiction. Queries about the case should be referred to the Chief Coroner.

Another case of swine flu was confirmed yesterday at Hawke's Bay Hospital, bringing the region's total to 12 this season........................................................

LATEST: A Hawke's Bay man is believed to be the fifth person to die of swine flu in New Zealand this year.

A 22-year-old man, who had an underlying health condition, died in Hawke's Bay Hospital's intensive care unit on Tuesday morning.

Results from tests returned on Wednesday afternoon confirmed he had the pandemic influenza strain H1N1.

The man's death has been referred to the coroner.

A spokesman for the coroner said his finding was likely to be completed today.

The man's name would not be released until family had been informed of the finding.

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Seasonal influenza is spreading in Hawke's Bay with doctors reporting a big spike in cases throughout the community.
On Tuesday morning a 22-year-old Hawke's Bay man died, the country's fifth fatality from swine flu.

Medical Officer of Health, Doctor Lester Calder says the H1N1 strain is now the most prevalent form of the flu and rate of swine flu in the community has suddenly shot-up in the past fortnight.

New Zealanders need to be vigilant about their health and hygiene to help prevent the spread of swine flu, after a fifth death from the H1N1 virus this year was reported today.

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