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Flu hits elderly hard in Canty
THE CONTENDERS John Minto, Lianne Dalziel or Michael ‘Tubby’ Hansen – which one of this trio will wear the mayoral chains after October’s local body elections? Ms Dalziel has led Christchurch with a big majority for the past three years; Mr Minto is a newcomer to politics in the city and Mr Hansen is the most battle-hardened off all – he has stood unsuccessfully for mayor for decades. Reporter Gabrielle Stuart has sat down and interviewed all three over the past week. She gives an insight into the trio on pages 12, 13 and 14. SPORT, P42 CRUNCH TIME FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORT
starnews.co.nz
By Gabrielle Stuart THE FLU has hit elderly Cantabrians hard in the last month, with the highest hospitalisation rates from the virus since 2012. But Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Alistair Humphrey said the situation could be even worse if not for the high number of people who had been vaccinated. So far this year, 318 people have been hospitalised with the flu, including 182 last month alone. In the same time last year, 226 had been hospitalised. But the rates of flu-like symptoms reported in the community are lower this year than they were last year. Last year, the flu vaccination was not effective, because it targeting a different strain of flu to the ones which proved most common. Dr Humphrey said the type of flu being seen in Canterbury was different to the strains in other parts of the country. “Had Canterbury not had such high rates of vaccination, it is likely that we would also have experienced high rates of infection from other influenza strains, like the rest of New Zealand,” he said. Canterbury had the highest vaccination rate in the country this year, with 176,690 vaccines distributed as of June. •Turn to page 5
Rise Up Christchurch