# 2158
Last summer Australia and New Zealand both experienced very rough flu seasons. This year, according to this article from the Sydney Morning Herald, the number of flu cases are 33% higher than last year.
While a heightened level of flu activity in the Southern Hemisphere isn't necessarily a harbinger of what the Northern Hemisphere can expect this Fall and Winter, we do follow the developments in places like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa with interest.
Occasionally a new strain of influenza will emerge during the Southern Hemisphere's flu season, such as the influenza A H3N2/Brisbane-like strain of last year, that ends up as a major component of the following Northern Hemisphere's flu season.
Flu outbreak worse than last year
Louise Hall
July 20, 2008
THE number of people struck down by influenza is up by one-third compared to this time last year, leading governments to urge people to protect themselves from the highly contagious infection.
More than 1230 flu cases have been confirmed nationally since January, up from 912 in a similar period in 2007, the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System shows.
The federal Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, urged any of the 2.7 million Australians aged over 65 who have not been vaccinated to protect themselves from the potentially life-threatening illness with a free influenza vaccination.
"As the flu season generally lasts until late August or September, many people can still be protected by having the vaccine now," Ms Elliot said.
The increase in cases of influenza is associated with World Youth Day. NSW Health says 153 pilgrims have been diagnosed with influenza A or B.
The acting deputy chief health officer for NSW Health, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, said people can reduce their risk of exposure and help stop the spread of disease by covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing and sneezing and frequently washing their hands, especially after toilet visits and changing nappies and before eating or preparing food.
