Record number of influenza tests in 2019, not a “mutant flu crisis”

Sheppeard, Vicky; Gilmour, Robin; Tobin, Sean

doi:10.5694/mja2.50321

Topics

Statistics, epidemiology and research design

To the Editor: Mainstream media headlines have raised fears among the community and clinicians about the impact of influenza and likely effectiveness of the 2019 influenza vaccine. On Saturday, 6 July 2019, the front page of Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported “Mutant flu crisis” and “Exclusive: Jab fail fears as killer strain takes hold”.

NSW Health, Sydney, NSW

Correspondence: vicky.sheppeard@health.nsw.gov.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. NSW Health. Influenza monthly epidemiology report, NSW, December 2017. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/Influenza/Publications/2017/december-flu-report.pdf (viewed July 2019).
2. NSW Health. Influenza surveillance weekly report. Week 26: 24 to 30 June 2019. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/Influenza/Pages/reports.aspx (viewed July 2019).
3. NSW Health. Don't spread flu. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/Influenza/Pages/default.aspx (viewed July 2019).

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