Contact with the influenza virus is almost unavoidable, and while contact does not necessarily mean infection, it does mean that you are never far from the possibility of catching it.
Influenza, commonly called the flu, can be a serious illness that is sometimes fatal. Infection with the influenza virus may lead to a stay in hospital for any age group but particularly if you are elderly or have an ongoing medical condition.
Influenza can make an existing medical condition, such as asthma or diabetes, a lot worse.
Even if you do not end up in hospital, influenza can keep you in bed for a week or more, preventing you from doing work, sport or just about anything that requires leaving the house.
Flu can be anywhere. Get immunised.
You can protect yourself and the people around you by getting your annual influenza immunisation, just like over a million other kiwis do each year.
Immunisation is FREE for those most at risk. To see if you may be eligible visit www.fightflu.co.nz
Talk to your doctor or nurse about the influenza immunisation today.
Early Childhood Centres
Information specifically for early childhood centres is available here. This page contains information on keeping your centre healthy, reducing the spread and notifying an outbreak.
Long Term Care Facilities
Influenza can be severe in a residental facility due to the age and pre-exisiting health condition of the residents, and person to person transmission. Immunisation for residents and staff before the start of the flu season is the best protection aganist influenza. Information specific to long term care facilities is available here.
Resources
A number of resources including fact sheets, general information and illness logs are available below.
Useful links
Flu Can Be Anywhere www.fightflu.co.nz
Ministry of Health www.health.govt.nz
