Flu virus impact: No telling how it will go

Heatmap of incidence of 2017 flu season, from FluTracking.
Your participation welcomed in the joint Australia - New
Zealand flu tracking survey: join here

by Anne Crawford

With winter approaching and the influenza (flu) season hovering health authorities and others are wondering if this year’s flu season will be a repeat of the deadly one that occurred last year. It’s a question being asked a lot lately of Professor Allen Cheng, infectious diseases expert at The Alfred Hospital. 

Indeed, Professor Cheng, who runs part of Australia’s hospital-based flu surveillance system FluCAN, is perennially asked if he can predict what will happen in the upcoming season. His answer is the same every year: no, he can’t.

Studies urge greater flu vaccine uptake

"Be like me, be flu free" says the bandaid

of 2017 Day of Immunology vaccination café
participant Dr Dimitra Zotos

by Anne Crawford

As the flu season sets in, studies by Monash University researchers have reinforced the need for at-risk groups to have influenza vaccinations.

The two studies were led by Professor Allen Cheng, (Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine), and Associate Professor Tom Kotsimbos (Department of Respiratory Medicine) in association with other researchers who are part of FluCAN (the Influenza Complications Alert Network), a sentinel surveillance program of 17 hospitals operating throughout Australia.

Annual report card rates flu vaccine as ‘moderately’ effective

Flu monitoring continues year round.
Image: Fightflu

by Anne Crawford

This year’s flu season in Australia might be winding down but for researchers investigating and monitoring the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease, work continues year-round.

Monash University researchers Professor Allen Cheng, from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and the Respiratory Medicine Laboratory’s Associate Professor Tom Kotsimbos, are part of FluCAN (the Influenza Complications Alert Network), a sentinel hospital-based surveillance program operating throughout Australia.

Flu vaccine reduces risk of hospitalisation

By Dr Jodie Abramovitch

Professor Allen Cheng (left) and
Associate Professor Tom Kotsimbos (right)

Vaccination against influenza infection is recommended in high risk groups including the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses. The flu vaccine is primarily aimed at reducing the severe health consequences of infection such as hospitalisation and death. However, most previous studies on the influenza vaccine were performed in healthy adults and have looked at protection against mild influenza infection rather than severe complications.