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Factsheet

Last updated: 01 July 2012

What is Influenza?

Influenza, or flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. There are three main types of influenza virus that cause infection in humans - types A, B and C - and many sub-types or strains. Influenza can occur throughout the year but influenza activity usually peaks in winter.
Influenza is a vaccine-preventable illness but a new vaccine needs to be given each year because influenza viruses change (mutate) constantly. A new influenza vaccine is prepared each year to best match the strains predicted for the coming influenza season.

What are the symptoms?

People with influenza typically experience some or all of the following symptoms:

• fever and chills
• cough, sore throat and runny or stuffy nose
• muscle aches, joint pains , headaches and fatigue (feeling very tired)
• nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea (more common in children than adults).

Some symptoms may last for more than a week. Some people may also experience very mild symptoms, particularly if they have some immunity from a previous infection or vaccination.
Seek immediate medical advice if the illness quickly becomes worse or if any of the following occurs:

• shortness of breath or rapid breathing
• chest pain
• confusion or sudden dizziness
• persistent vomiting.

How is it spread?

Influenza viruses are mainly spread by droplets made when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Influenza can also be spread through touching surfaces where infected droplets have landed.
People with influenza can be infectious from the day before their symptoms start. Adults are most infectious in the first 3-5 days of their illness, while children remain infectious for 7-10 days, and people with weakened immune systems may be infectious for longer.

Who is at risk?

While anyone can get influenza, the following people are at higher risk of complications from influenza infection (and are eligible for free annual influenza vaccine):

• All individuals aged 65 years or older
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples aged 15 years or older
• Pregnant women
• Individuals aged 6 months and over with medical conditions predisposing to severe influenza, namely:
  • Cardiac disease, including cyanotic congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure.
  • Chronic respiratory conditions, including suppurative lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe asthma.
  • Other chronic illnesses requiring regular medical follow up or hospitalisation in the previous year, including diabetes mellitus, chronic metabolic diseases, chronic renal failure, and haemoglobinopathies.
  • Chronic neurological conditions that impact on respiratory function, including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and seizure disorders.
  • Impaired immunity, including HIV, malignancy and chronic steroid use.
  • Children aged 6 months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy.

How is it prevented?

Influenza vaccination each year before winter arrives is the best way to prevent influenza.

• Seasonal influenza vaccination is available for anyone aged 6 months and over to protect against influenza, provided they do not have a medical reason that precludes them from receiving influenza vaccines.
• People at higher risk of influenza complications (see "Who is at risk") are strongly recommended to have an annual influenza vaccination, and are eligible for free influenza vaccine under the National Influenza Vaccination Program. For more information see the NSW Health Immunisation website at:
  www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/
• In addition to people eligible for free vaccine, annual influenza vaccination is also recommended for those who frequently come in to close contact with other people at higher risk of influenza complications (such as health care workers, and family members), to help protect vulnerable people from infection.

For more information on general influenza vaccine recommendations refer to latest edition of The Australian Immunisation Handbook available at: http://immunise.health.gov.au .


Take action to stop the spread of influenza by remembering to:

• Cover your face when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in a rubbish bin.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and often. Wash hands for at least 10 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Stay at home until you're well. Wait at least 24 hours after your fever resolves so you that you are unlikely to infect other people. Keep sick children away from school and other activities.
• Call ahead to see a doctor. If you think you may have influenza and you need to see a doctor, call first so the clinic can take precautions to reduce the risk to other people.

How is it diagnosed?

Doctors usually diagnose influenza based on symptoms. The diagnosis can be confirmed by testing a sample of fluid taken from the back of the nose and throat or a blood sample. These tests are usually only needed if the illness is severe or if there is an increased risk of complications.

How is it treated?

• The symptoms of influenza are usually managed by bed rest and taking simple analgesics for muscle aches and pains.
• Children under 16 years of age must not be given aspirin-containing medications while ill with influenza. This is due to the increased risk of children developing Reye syndrome, a form of encephalitis and liver degeneration.
• Specific influenza antiviral medicines can reduce the severity and the duration of influenza but need to be taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms. These medicines need to be prescribed by a doctor, and are usually considered for people at higher risk of complications from influenza infection.

What is the public health response?

• Laboratories must notify cases of influenza to their local Public Health Unit. Individual cases are managed by their health care provider.
• Public health action focuses on outbreaks in high-risk settings such as health care facilities, special schools, residential care facilities, and Aboriginal communities.

Futher Information

• Influenza Website
• Influenza Reports
• Influenza in travel groups - Fact Sheet
• National Guidelines - Prevention and management of influenza outbreaks in RCF
• PHU -aged care facility influenza outbreak form

Further information - Public Health Units in NSW
For more information please contact your doctor, local public health unit or community health centre - look under NSW Government at the front of the White Pages
Metropolitan Areas	Location	Number	Rural Areas	Location	Number
Northern Sydney	Hornsby	02 9477 9400	Greater Southern	Goulburn	02 4824 1837
Central Coast	Gosford	02 4349 4845		Albury	02 6080 8900
South Eastern Sydney	Randwick	02 9382 8333	Greater Western	Broken Hill	08 8080 1499
Illawarra Shoalhaven	Wollongong	02 4221 6700		Dubbo	02 6841 5569
Sydney South West	Camperdown	02 9515 9420		Bathurst	02 6339 5601
Sydney West	Penrith	02 4734 2022	Hunter/New England	Newcastle	02 4924 6477
	Parramatta	02 9840 3603		Tamworth	02 6764 8000
Justice Health Service	Matraville	02 9311 2707	North Coast	Port Macquarie	02 6588 2750
				Lismore	02 6620 7585