Tasmania’s Public Health Services is continuing to monitor a number of health and aged care facilities experiencing outbreaks of influenza.
As of today, there are 14 health and aged care facilities that have reported clusters of cases of influenza-like illness to PHS and are being monitored.
PHS is assisting by ensuring facilities are aware of national resources to guide clinical and infection control measures that help limit the spread of illness between unwell and well residents.
The number of individual confirmed cases of influenza in Tasmania this year is 1694. These data and other surveillance measures indicate that this year’s influenza season is moderately severe.
The precise number of deaths that occur when influenza is widespread in the community is unknown. However, during winter months, there can be up to 10 per cent more deaths than average.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data show that influenza and pneumonia are a relatively common cause of death among elderly persons nation-wide.
In Tasmania in 2015, five deaths occurred during influenza outbreaks in three health or aged care facilities, and in 2016 there were nine deaths during influenza outbreaks in eight facilities. Across these two years, there were 24 outbreaks of influenza or influenza-like illness reported to PHS.
PHS publishes fluTAS, a monthly account of influenza during the influenza season, which also notes institutional outbreaks, on the DHHS website.
All aged care facilities were written to by PHS before this year’s influenza season with advice on preparation, preparedness and response to influenza.