Health – Fighting Flu

This flu season is the worst New Zealand has seen in recent memory. The H3N2 strain that overwhelmed hospitals in the US and Europe last December has caused similar problems here. Hospitalisations have eased slightly this week, but Auckland numbers remain at a 10-year high .

So how did we get here? This year’s vaccine is a good match for the strain circulating and does provide real protection. However the late peaking flu season has meant that early winter vaccine protection wore off for many people before the flu season arrived. Plus some of the natural immunity in our community that has been built up over years was not enough for the latest new mutation of the influenza virus.

Flu symptoms come on quickly, and many people describe it as feeling like they’ve been hit by a truck. Common signs include fever, chills, aches, headache, a blocked or runny nose, cough, sore throat, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea. 

Watch for complications too. If your fever goes away and then returns a couple of days later, or you start having trouble breathing, get to a doctor straight away. These can signal something more serious, like bacterial pneumonia, which can be life threatening.

Your local pharmacist can be a real help if you’ve got the flu. They can offer advice, testing, treatment, and symptom relief, and some local pharmacies even deliver same day if you’re too unwell to come in.

RAT tests are now available that check for Covid, RSV, and Influenza A or B all at once. If you test positive for flu, a pharmacist can prescribe the antiviral Tamiflu, as long as it’s within 48 hours of symptoms starting. 

Paracetamol and ibuprofen help manage fever, and a pharmacist can advise the best way to combine or alternate them to best control your symptoms. Staying hydrated matters too, so rehydration solutions are worth having on hand, along with cough mixtures, throat lozenges, and nasal sprays. 

If you’re concerned about breathing, a pulse oximeter is useful to keep at home. It measures your oxygen levels, and your pharmacist can tell you what numbers to watch for.

Sadly children have also been hit hard by flu this year. Under the government funded extended pharmacy services, pharmacies can now provide under 14s a consultation plus medicine for pain, fever, and dehydration for $20, or free with a Community Services Card.