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Wednesday, June 29, 2022
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SHIRE APPOINTS INTERIM CEO
BIG DAY ON BULLER
Sport
LAST week saw The Farmhouse exchange the classroom for the snowfields, with Bush Kinder kids thoroughly embracing a day on Mt Buller. The shared elation was evident on Joel Mackie’s face as he enjoyed some tobogganing action.
EAGLES DOWN IN THRILLER
Flu is on the rise
Mansfi M field ld Shi Shire with ith 36 confi firmed d flu cases and d wellll on-track -t k tto surpass p allll ti time record d
IT probably comes as a surprise to few in town that the flu is on the rise in a major way. Confirmed cases of influenza in the Mansfield Shire so far this year are at 36, with recent trends indicating a rate of infection which may exceed the local record of 126 cases in 2017. In comparison, only one case of influenza was recorded in 2021, and only six in 2020, a drop from 2019’s tally of 90 cases.
BY SHAUN McMAHON smcmahon@ nemedia.com.au
A Department of Health spokesperson said the spread of the influenza virus would have lessened in the past two years, with social distancing, restrictions, lockdowns, less local and international travel, and COVID-safe measures, including wearing masks. The spokesperson also
said it’s likely more people are getting tested for influenza than previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of just assuming it’s the flu and resting up at home like they may have done previously. Dr Ben Nally, from Central General Practice in Mansfield, said the influenza notification rates have certainly been higher than the last couple of seasons. “We’re seeing this
nationwide and this seems to be the case in Mansfield also, with most clinicians stating they are seeing an increased number of cases,” said Dr Nally. “The other aspect of the influenza season that has been a surprise, is how early the season started this year. “Numbers started to take off in early May, which is about a month earlier than we expected.” Year-to-date statistics across the North East
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include the Alpine Shire, where there have been 48 cases confirmed so far, compared to zero in 2021, three in 2020 and 31 in 2019. 38 cases have been confirmed in Indigo compared to zero in 2021, nine in 2020 and 23 in 2019. And Strathbogie Shire has recorded 13 cases so far, compared to zero in 2021, eight in 2020 and 18 in 2019. However, contrary
to the Department of Health’s point regarding a spike in testing, it’s also a possibility that the number of influenza infections is actually much higher than the stats show, considering the nature of milder symptoms being similar to the common cold, which may not have been reported to health authorities if the individual returned a negative COVID test. ■ Continued page 2
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