# 4744
After a very slow start this summer, there are indications that the levels of flu-like illness in parts of New Zealand and Australia may be picking up.
Two quick reports this morning.
One from Auckland, NZ and the other from Canberra, Australia. In both countries, the overall level of influenza remains lower than last year, but they are reporting regional `pockets’ of heavy `viral’ activity.
How much of this is due to pandemic H1N1 (as opposed to other flu/respiratory viruses), and whether this is a trend that will continue to spread, is something we will have to wait to see.
Hospitals busy with spike in winter illnesses
The Public Health Service says pregnant women are especially vulnerable and should see a doctor if they get unwell
Thu, 22 Jul 2010 6:16p.m.
By Michael Morrah
There has been a sudden increase in the number of people in Auckland contracting H1N1 – the virus commonly referred to as swine flu.
The Public Health Service says pregnant women are especially vulnerable and should see a doctor if they get unwell.
It comes as hospital departments around the country struggle with an influx of illness.
St John paramedics and staff at Auckland Hospital have been busy; there has been more trauma, more flu; more people turning up for help as winter starts to bite.
“We've just had out busiest-ever weekend, we saw more than 340 patients as a complex,” says Auckland Emergency Department Clinical director Dr Tim Parke.
A similar story comes from Canberra Australia.
Emergency departments full
Posted Thu Jul 22, 2010 9:06am AEST
Canberra's emergency departments are busier than ever, with more people presenting than in July last year during the swine flu epidemic.
The Health Minister Katy Gallagher says on average the Canberra Hospital's emergency department is seeing more than 160 people a day, and numbers are up at Calvary Hospital as well.
The Government has attributed the spike to more people presenting with asthma, chest pains and viral conditions.
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