Flu hospitalisations fall but infection rates remain very high

Flu season appears to have passed its peak, as hospitalisation rates for respiratory illnesses fall for the first time in weeks.But data shows infection rates still remain very high.The rate was 14 admissions per 100,000 people on 6 September compared with 16 on 30 September.A particularly virulent strain of influenza A has spread across the country rapidly, putting pressure on the health service.Public health physician Hannah Cooper at PHF Science said data showed the flu may have "turned a corner".She said the overall severe acute respiratory infection [SARI] rate in Auckland had come down.She said flu was the main driver of these hospital admissions - its own admissions rates were the lowest in weeks as well."We see this pattern every year with flu, it spreads very quickly and at some point it really does exhaust the people that it can spread to and so it starts to come down."Cooper said flu was also seasonal and spread more in winter and early spring, easing off as temperatures rose.But she warned rates remained very high: despite having fallen rates were 40 percent higher than at last year's flu peak.She said vaccination remained an important protection."And as we've said previously, this year's strains do appear to be well matched to the vaccine."Cooper reminded people the government had made flu jabs free for all under-fives last week.She also recommended "sensible health behaviours": staying home and away from vulnerable people when unwell.