Wagga is in grips of the worst flu season in years, doctors say.
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It comes as national statistics reveal the dreaded lurgy has struck more than 70,000 Australians this winter, killing more than 20 in NSW.
The season has been labelled the worst year for influenza in more than a decade and practitioners are encouraging residents to get the jab before it strikes and to avoid spreading it.
General practitioner Jane Goddard said she knew too well how dramatic the flu could be and how awful it felt.
“I often feels like you have been run over by a steamroller,” Dr Goddard said.
“It’s different from your normal colds.”
Unlike the common cold, influenza is specific virus, causing a range of generalised symptoms and serve reactions.
While a cold may last for a few days, the flu can last up to 10 and in some cases, it can be lethal.
Dr Goddard said a spike in patients with the flu had been noted.
It follows a consistent rise in related hospitalisations at Wagga’s hospital since 2001.
“It’s not at epidemic levels,” Dr Goddard said.
“But we are certainly seeing higher incidences than we would normally.”
The Wagga doctor said vaccines covered four strains from both influenza “strand A” and “strand B” but mutations were often hard to predict.
Dr Goddard said the malnourished, elderly, pregnant, very young and those with poor immune systems were most at risk.
“The Spanish flu killed more people than World War I,” she said.
“It can be serious.”
See also: You know it’s flu season when
