Queensland flu season marked by high rates of hospitalisations. "82 per cent of Queenslanders admitted to hospital with the flu to date this year were not vaccinated" -Yes. That's why it's a great idea to get vaccinated in April Get a dedicated science reporter, ABC www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Not sure if flu shots will be available in the U.S. this year.
😔
It would also help if so many out of state people didn't holiday here and bring their germs with them. And if the rather expensive RATs were more accurate. Five weeks of something pneumonia like and couldn't see a doctor. No appointments. Infectious. Gave up.
I don't know what primary care is for if not to see people who are sick! Is the intent to push this out to the satellite health centres (if you're in Qld) or hospital EDs? There are many other things apart from SARS-CoV-2, flu or RSV that could cause respiratory infections so best to get a lab test
I'm in Cairns. No point wasting medical time now as I am recovering after 5 weeks. EDs are full to overflowing. Local GPs worn out. Nearest health centre is 1 hr away. Watching the rescue helicopter doing laps over my house, bringing in ppl from further north. Media is quiet!
They have trained people to use rats, since that is pretty much the only way to know if u have covid
The only way? It's not even a particularly good way of knowing if you have covid-19
And if you test yourself positive for influenza does Australia have anti virals for it? I've heard of them given in America
We have antivirals available if needed. You're probably aware that more RATs (52.7% of 1,141 vs 14.8% PCRs FluTracking survey participants) are done for COVID-19 self-testing than PCRs. For #flu, the survey doesn't report RAT data, but 10.3% with new fever and cough used a PCR.
Most people can't afford rats, certainly not afford Plus life and you need a referral for a pcr these days
And I'm well aware of the problems with rats
And FWIW, the person who writes the clickbait headlines for the ABC website often seems to misrepresent or simply not get the story.
AI at work again perhaps ?
Maybe!
The article also criticises using home tests. When GPs flatly refuse to see patients with respiratory symptoms in person, insisting on Telehealth, it’s pretty hard to test any other way. Have had this experience with several different practices this season.
That's pretty rotten! It also seems ot suggest RAT numbers go into key flu figures - only lab test data goes into national flu data.
A very disorganised article, confusion sprinkled with statistics. Confusion from the journalist or from the QLD health dept. you can ask for a swab. Didn’t Australia get a summer spike last year ?
Not of flu, no - but the same guy wrote that articl....waaaaitamminuute did I just get baited????
Should it not be that, except in specific circumstances, a non-vaccinated person should be charged for their hospitalisation?
No because they also pay their taxes and deserve the same treatment as a vaccinated person. A big part of the blame here is the failure to educate, communicate, build and keep trust. That's on leadership, not the individual.
So the individual anti-vaxxer shares no censure for his/her actions? It’s all the fault if the government? Sacre Bleueo
It's not all their fault, no. I chose my words carefully.
Whatever
Hard to feel sorry for them in that case