The northern hemisphere was struck by a virulent strain of the flu this season, which has prompted local health officials to strongly recommend people get the flu vaccine as winter approaches.
The Hawke's Bay DHB was told yesterday that the impact of the flu on the other side of the world led to increased admissions to hospital and intensive care, and that there was a threefold increase in flu-related deaths.
Hawke's Bay DHB infectious disease physician Andrew Burns said this had led to some concerns that New Zealand may also have a bad flu season this year.
"We are particularly keen for folk to take the opportunity to be vaccinated before the season truly starts."
While the vaccine was not a great match for the flu strain in the northern hemisphere, it was expected to be more effective in New Zealand, he said.
"We hope this will be a better match for what we might see here, and it will cover four strains this year compared to three strains in previous years."
A common attitude among those who did not want to be vaccinated was that they had seen people develop the flu shortly after being vaccinated, but Dr Burns said the vaccine did not bring the flu on, rather people may have already been carrying some other sort of virus that was not as serious.
While pregnant women, the elderly, very young children and those with chronic health conditions were considered most vulnerable to the flu, it was in everyone's interest to get the jab, if only to protect those around them, he said.
"Many people can have the flu but not develop serious symptoms so they can unknowingly spread the virus – the vaccine helps avoid that and protect family members who may be more vulnerable."
He said there was also some evidence that regular exposure to the vaccine strengthened the immune system against the flu virus, and that it would only be in exceptional circumstances that people would be advised not to get vaccinated because of other health concerns.
District Health Board advice on beating the bugs in addition to getting the vaccine was to wash hands regularly, keep hands away from the face, stay away from sick people, stay home if sick and to eat healthily.