By Catherine Masters
The flu may have been a final complication in the deaths of up to 100 people at Middlemore Hospital last month.
"It's like a plague down here," said intensive care specialist Dr David Galler.
Official hospital mortality figures were not available, but Dr Galler said flu-related deaths appeared to have increased sharply in June, with about 100 people dying mainly from respiratory illnesses.
"We are seeing a lot of very sick people and the medical wards are full of these people, more than we've seen in a long time."
He urged vulnerable people - the elderly or those with chronic respiratory or other illnesses - to get to the doctor quickly.
The Government has extended free flu vaccinations for people in these categories until the end of this month.
Dr Galler said it was always difficult to say whether flu was responsible for deaths, but for some people it was the final catalyst.
South Auckland has extremely high numbers of people with respiratory disorders, lung disease, asthma and diabetes.
"It's a particularly nasty flu-thing. There is a general winter peak in illness and we've got a very vulnerable population here," said Dr Galler. "The general health status [in South Auckland] is not good, these people usually present late, and all of those factors combine and you get a lot of deaths."
Other hospitals in the region say while they have been kept extremely busy with flu cases, they have not had a high death rate as a result.
Auckland Healthcare's public health division says the number of people visiting GPs with flu was down last week, but that does not mean the epidemic is over.
Cases so far had been of the virulent A-strain flu, known as the Sydney flu.
But other flu strains could emerge before the end of winter.
At Waikato Hospital, an extra ward has been opened for flu patients, but a respiratory expert, Graham Mills, said this was usual for the time of year.
Although many people were being admitted to hospital, he did not believe the flu had been as severe as in some previous years.
The free vaccination campaign had probably helped in this.
He and other doctors are testing a new anti-flu tablet which is said to cut the length and severity of flu symptoms.
Anyone in the high-risk groups can take part in the trial by telephoning 0800-10145 within 36 hours of feeling ill.
Death rate soars in flu 'plague'
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