Off the wire
• Shenzhen citizen's entry to Hong Kong restricted  • Feature: Transport connectivity with China to help speed up Vietnam's economic development  • 1st LD: China Q1 foreign trade dips 6 pct  • Xinhua China news advisory -- April 13  • 22 Myanmar survivors from sunk Russian fishing trawler return home  • Urgent: China Q1 foreign trade dips 6 pct  • Feature: Afghan abductees' fate still uncertain, families stage sit-in to pressure gov't  • China stock index futures open higher Monday  • Australian doctors, parents back hardline stance against anti-vaccination families  • China treasury bond futures open lower Monday  
You are here: 　 Home

Australians urged to have flu vaccine shots

Xinhua, April 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australia's leading influenza expert body on Monday urged citizens to book a flu shot now as the number of local people dying of flu keeps rising.

Up to 3,500 influenza-related deaths occur in Australia each year, which is higher than the national road death toll. Last year 18,000 Australians are hospitalized, the highest number to date.

The Influenza Specialist Group (ISG) said as of March, 4,381 flu cases had been recorded, compared to 3838 at the same time last year.

ISG chairman Alan Hampson said the most recent, serious influenza cases in the Northern hemisphere were caused by the A( H3N2) virus, which emerged as the predominant, circulating strain during the five-to-six month vaccine manufacturing period.

"The 2015 Southern Hemisphere free flu vaccine contains two new strains, including the H3N2 influenza strain, which has been responsible for a severe flu season and high flu hospitalization rates in the Northern Hemisphere, and the late outbreaks of influenza B in Europe," Hampsin said in a statement.

"All indications are that our vaccine is now a really good match for the coming Australian flu season." Endi