In Australia every year, it is estimated that up to four million people will contract influenza or ‘the flu’.

The 2017 influenza season saw the highest levels of activity since 2009 and resulted in an estimated 29,000 confirmed influenza hospital admissions. The severity of the influenza season can vary tremendously from year to year, but early indications are that the volume of cases in 2019 will certainly surpass last year’s total.

At the time of writing, there have been 33,200 reported cases of influenza nationally compared to just under 59,000 cases for the whole of 2018, with the number of cases diagnosed in March being triple that for the same month last year.

While it can happen any time, it's more common to catch the flu, or experience flu-like symptoms, in the colder months of the year (April to October). The number of diagnosed instances of the flu typically stays low during the summer months, rising to moderate or high at the peak of flu season, which is usually around August.

Influenza is a highly contagious disease caused by the influenza virus, a virus which is mutating into new strains all the time, making it difficult for health authorities to keep up. Influenza causes countless absentee days from work and school.

The virus infects the upper airways and respiratory tracts and causes cough, congestion, fever, muscle and joint pain, headache and tiredness. While for most healthy adults, the flu is an unpleasant, but not life-threatening illness, it can cause serious complications for at risk groups, such as small children, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions such as asthma.

This winter, there are five simple steps you can take to prevent the spread of this illness and protect your family from the flu.

1. Vaccination

Vaccination is the best way to prevent catching the flu. Vaccines are available for children over six months of age, through to adults and the elderly. Many workplaces offer the vaccine each year to their employees, and the National Immunisation Program offer free vaccines to ‘at risk’ groups, such as pregnant women, people aged over 65, and those with particular medical conditions. Find out more about the 2019 vaccine here.

In most states, the vaccine has already been distributed to GPs and experts suggest from early April is a good time to be vaccinated as it takes two weeks for your immunity to develop. 

2. Stay home when you are sick

If you or a loved one comes down with the flu, the best remedy is to stay at home and rest. Not only does it allow your body to fight the infection, it also prevents the spread of the virus to other people.

3. Avoid face-to-face contact

The flu virus is spread by infected people coughing and sneezing, which spreads infected droplets into the air and onto surrounding objects. Droplets generally travel less than a metre, but the virus can survive for an hour or more in the air of a closed room. To avoid becoming infected, stay a metre away from people with flu-like symptoms. If nursing a small child with the flu, hold them so they cough over your shoulder rather than into your face.

4. Wash your hands

As with all contagious illness, hand hygiene is vital to prevent the spread of flu. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if necessary. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as the virus enters your body this way. Read more about how washing your hands can keep illness at bay here.

5. Clean and disinfect

Remember to clean the commonly touched surfaces in your home and office, such as fridge door handles, toys, taps, tables, bathroom surfaces, bench tops and door handles. The flu virus can live on hard surfaces for more than 8 hours. Surfaces can be cleaned with detergent and water or a household disinfectant.

Hopefully if you follow these key guidelines, you will be able to keep your family safe from the flu virus this winter. But if you or someone in your family should become ill with flu-like symptoms, and you are concerned, you should visit your GP. If it is at night or during the weekend, and your GP is closed, you can call 13SICK (that’s 13 7425) or use the 13SICK App to arrange a bulk billed, after hours doctor home visit.

Dr Umberto Russo MBBS FRACGP is Chief Medical Officer at 13SICK, National Home Doctor. He has more than 30 years experience both as a General Practitioner and a visiting home doctor, with a special interest in urgent medical care.