Rotorua's influenza season could be late this winter

Rhinovirus - the virus that causes the common cold - was the most commonly detected virus in the Rotorua community. Photo / File

While it may be the time of the year when the mercury is struggling to hit the mid-teens, Rotorua medical practices are reporting a "business as usual" winter in terms of influenza and respiratory illnesses.

Of the practices spoken to by the Rotorua Daily Post, only the Ranolf Medical Centre reported an increase.

Nurse team leader Caerlie Picken said there had been a definite spike in influenza cases seen at the centre.

"Particularly in the past two weeks," Picken said. "It seems winter illnesses have come around a little later this year as opposed to last."

She said a number of patients had been admitted to Rotorua Hospital with influenza and/or respiratory distress following the appointment with their doctor.

"We're still encouraging people to get their flu vaccinations."

Things were much the same as last year at the Owhata Medical Centre, with staff saying they had not seen a spike this winter.

Te Ngae Medical Centre Practice Manager Henrietta Egger, said she believed there had been fewer people presenting at the practice with winter illnesses this year, compared with the same time last year.

"We've definitely had a few cases of influenza and respiratory illness but nothing out of the ordinary," Egger said.

Egger also encouraged Rotorua residents to get their influenza immunisation as July and August were when the majority of cases were reported.

Lakes District Health Board assistant communications officer Shan Tapsell said there had not been an increase in the number of influenza and complications from winter illnesses at Rotorua Hospital.

"The numbers and types of presentations we have seen at the hospital are normal for this time of the year."

What was being seen in Rotorua was consistent with what the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) had reported in its New Zealand influenza intelligence data up until July 22.

The ESR national overview said flu and other respiratory virus activity was still unseasonably low in New Zealand.

It reported indicators of community respiratory virus activity were still at low levels, although slightly more elevated in recent weeks. These trends and laboratory test positivity suggested the start of more widespread influenza transition in the community.

Rhinovirus, the virus that causes the common cold, was still the most commonly detected respiratory virus in the community and Adenovirus in the hospital.