The region is in the midst of its worst flu season on record, after more than a 1000 influenza cases were confirmed last month.
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In July, the Hunter New England Health region reported a total of 1161 influenza cases, including 878 influenza A cases and 283 influenza B cases.
It’s by far the worst July on record (data has been collected since 2001), dwarfing the figures from the same time last year when there was only a total of 247 influenza cases.
Across the state there has been more than 11,200 cases in the past month, including 8000 cases that were confirmed in the past week alone.
Tamworth and Gunnedah hospitals have taken extra precautions to manage the epidemic, including temporary restricting admissions in some wards and screening patients that have flu-like symptoms.
Doctors warned people with flu-like symptoms to steer clear of work, nursing homes and avoid visiting patients in hospitals.
Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
