{"id":2062,"date":"2025-05-23T00:06:54","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T00:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olivedrab-rabbit-880884.hostingersite.com\/?p=2062"},"modified":"2025-05-23T00:06:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T00:06:55","slug":"health-expert-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interesting17hr.com\/?p=2062","title":{"rendered":"Health expert warns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Health experts are warning Australians to brace for a triple threat this winter, as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV continue to spread rapidly. The strongest protection, they say, is timely vaccination\u2014ideally before the end of May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re already seeing an early wave of highly infectious respiratory illnesses,\u201d said Professor Paul Griffin on Wednesday. \u201cWhen one person in a household gets sick, the virus can spread to everyone within days. Early detection is key to managing outbreaks and protecting vulnerable groups.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of May 22, more than 80,000 flu cases have been confirmed across Australia\u2014a more than 50% increase from the same time last year. Influenza, typically caused by type A or B viruses, is a highly contagious respiratory infection with several subtypes and strains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 cases are also expected to surge in the coming months, driven largely by a highly transmissible Omicron subvariant known as LP.8.1. This strain was responsible for 60% of COVID cases in the UK by March and has been linked to significant outbreaks overseas since late 2024. While not more severe than previous strains, it appears to spread more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Catherine Bennett, an epidemiologist at Deakin University, emphasized the importance of staying current with COVID vaccinations\u2014especially for those over 65 or with underlying health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVaccines take a couple of weeks to become effective and typically offer protection for a few months\u2014which is the length of most seasonal waves,\u201d she said. \u201cGetting vaccinated in May ensures you\u2019re protected during the peak period. Don\u2019t wait for cases to climb\u2014act early.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She warned that multiple factors are contributing to the anticipated spike in infections: waning immunity, lower booster uptake, and more people gathering indoors as temperatures drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis variant has been in Australia since July last year, but as we moved out of winter, most people still had recent infections or booster protection. That\u2019s no longer the case,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Health experts are warning Australians to brace for a triple threat this winter, as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV continue to spread rapidly. The strongest protection, they say, is timely vaccination\u2014ideally before the end of May. \u201cWe\u2019re already seeing an early wave of highly infectious respiratory illnesses,\u201d said Professor Paul Griffin on Wednesday. \u201cWhen one person…<\/p>\n

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