Editorial: Weather and illness hot topic this week

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

It really has been a bit of a double whammy for residents of our fine Bay over the past week or so with bad weather and a particularly nasty flu bug hitting many families hard.

Both subjects have certainly been the topic of conversation as people come to grips with the effect sickness and the cold are having on their lives.

We sometimes get asked why we do weather stories, particularly in winter, because each year we know it is going to get cold. It is simple really - adverse weather conditions (hot or cold) are newsworthy. News is what people are interested in and are talking about.

Everyone has had a weather story this week, whether you live in town or in the country.

Surface flooding, slips and high winds have made driving quite difficult and yesterday morning even saw some rural dwellers cut off as fords and low bridges were overcome by rising rivers and streams.

If everyone had a weather story to tell, then the same goes for the flu. I know of so many people who were hit hard by the vicious bug going around.

I was laid low for a few of days while on annual leave this week and it was not a pleasant experience.

The bug certainly has had an impact on our health system with medical centres in Napier and Hastings reporting a large number of people coming in with symptoms.

Our hospital has also been under pressure with many people presenting at the emergency department and an increase in admissions to the medical wards of patients with respiratory illness.

Pharmacies seem to have been overrun as well.

Hawke's Bay District Health Board chief medical officer of primary care Dr Mark Peterson said there were options available when people were feeling unwell but it was not an emergency.

Patients could phone clinics to get advice on what their next step should be, depending on the symptoms. He also suggested that keeping medications up-to-date was important to avoid the need to visit your doctor.

There is also Healthline on 0800 611 116, which is free 24/7 health advice by registered nurses.

So, while winter weather and illness come around every year, the most important thing is to keep our families safe, warm and healthy when they do strike.