(Express) – Plummeting temperatures have resulted in 1,843 flu cases across the Australian state in the week ending May 26 alone, as well as 43 deaths from the illness. The death toll this year so far has overtaken the total number of deaths from flu in 2018, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The total number of confirmed cases since January is now 16,153. This number is just shy of 2018’s full-year total of 17,439 when 40 people died of flu. NSW Health’s director of Communicable Diseases Dr. Vicky Sheppeard said: “Getting
the flu jab now is critical to reducing the risk of having the potentially lethal virus, particularly as it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to provide full protection.” It is believed this year’s number could get even higher as temperatures continue to drop throughout the state. NSW Health has urged residents to get a flu jab amid the crisis, while issuing a warning to those who are at a higher risk of contracting the flu, such as the elderly and very young children. READ MORE
