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Flu fears ‘may help’ By Megan Haggan
CONCERNS over swine flu may help protect Canberrans against regular seasonal influenza, according to ACT Chief Health Officer Charles Guest. “CityNews” conducted a quick survey of three pharmacies in Civic and found that all had sold out of face masks by late last week; there were also reports that general practitioners had run out of the flu vaccine. Pharmacies have received numerous requests for the prescription antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza. A rush on the flu vaccine – which is formulated each year to protect against certain strains of the flu which are anticipated to be the most prevalent in the community – could result in a reduction in the transmission of regular seasonal influenza, Dr Guest said. The 2009 vaccine contains the A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus, the A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus and the B/Florida/4/2006like virus.
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It does not contain the swine flu strain, although Dr Guest said: “It’s conceivable that there might be some protection.” Improved hygiene measures, such as the wearing of face masks, may also help. “A lot of the concerns about this new strain arose because of early reports of high mortality in Mexico, but every year there’s a certain mortality, particularly the very old and very young, from regular seasonal influenza,” Dr Guest said. The number of people who die each year from the flu varies from year to year, but is “less than one per cent of cases”. The mortality that was reported early on for swine flu was well above that.” However, at the time of writing the World Health Organization had revised its estimate of the number of deaths from the new swine flu strain to seven, “which is good news”, Dr Guest said. Twelve people were being investigated in the ACT for swine flu late last week, but no cases had been confirmed.
Cherie Kelly leads from the front… “There’s a whole generation of kids who don’t see walking to school as a possibility.” Photo by Silas.
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to school we go By Megan Haggan
MOST children and parents don’t even think about walking to school any more, says Cherie Kelly, principal of Holy Spirit Primary School in Nicholls. Ms Kelly told “CityNews” that she hopes Walk Safely to School Day, on Friday, May 15, will help put walking to school “back on the map”. “Over the last few years there’s been a real move away from walking, and part of that is around the safety issue,” she says. Particularly with recent attempted ab-
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exercise, Ms Kelly says – the health benefits are just a positive side-effect. Holy Spirit Primary will team with the neighbouring Gold Creek Primary to take part in Walk Safely to School Day. Teachers will meet children at designated spots in the local area – parents will be advised before the day where these are – and walk in groups to school. The day is a national initiative, organised by Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby. For more information visit www.walk. com.au.
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ductions in the Territory, parents are acutely conscious of their children’s safety. “The other reason is that we’re so timepoor. Children are involved in so many activities, and with parents working, that people are concerned about the fastest way to get where they’re going, which isn’t on foot, or on a bus, or a bike – it’s the car. “As a result, there’s a whole generation of kids who don’t see walking to school as a possibility.” The children who do walk to school tend to do so in groups, and see it as a social opportunity rather than a chance to get some
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