“Australia Faces Flu Threat From NZ”

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Australian authorities predicted a severe influenza outbreak in March, but quarantine measures for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and less air travel may have helped protect Australians. Now, however, experts say that a dangerous flu strain has shown up in New Zealand and could hit Australia within weeks. According to government surveillance data, flu rates are much lower than last year, and the Department of Human Services reports that there have been 20 laboratory notifications for flu this year, down from 262 at the same time in 2002. More flu vaccine has been distributed than in previous years, and Victoria deputy chief health officer John Carnie believes that fears about SARS probably raised vaccination levels.

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