A Cowra medical practitioner says people presenting with influenza like symptoms and suffering from the virus are both up this year.
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Thirty seven cases of influenza have been reported in Cowra, a significant increase from last year when just two instances of the virus were detected.
Many more are presenting at the Cowra Medical Centre with "flu like symptoms" that Dr Dave Richmond said can be nearly impossible to differentiate from the virus without taking a dedicated medical swab.
The increases is despite between two and three thousand Cowra residents taking advantage of the flu vaccination program, something Dr Richmond encourages residents to continue with.
Dr Richmond says Influenza A has been the most common strain of the virus this year.
"We've even seen Influenza A in people who have had the yearly flu vaccination which is supposed to cover Influenza A," Dr Richmond said.
"Presumably this means it's a different strain of Influenza A than is used in the flu needle, but we also know that the flu needle is not 100 per cent effective in covering everyone," he said.
Despite the vaccine not always being effective Dr Richmond is encouraging Cowra residents to take advantage of it.
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"Having an increase in the number of cases doesn't mean you should throw the towel in and say there is no point getting the flu needle, you definitely still need to do it," he said.
He also encourages those in high risk to take advantage of the vaccination program.
"There are people in very much high risk groups who should do their best to avoid the flu, such as people with chronic lung diseases and chronic illnesses.
"We recommend they get the government subsidised annual flu needle."
While the incidence of Influenza is up in Cowra there have also been an increase in the number of people presenting with flu like symptoms.
"The official cases of flu reported are based on doing a dedicated swab to check which virus is in a patient's upper respiratory tract," Dr Richmond explained.
"You can have Influenza but if you don't have a swab doctors won't record the case.
"There have been numerous (Cowra) hospital admissions this year of people with the virus and flu like illnesses and probably nine or 10 times that number of people seen at the Cowra Medical Centre with flu like symptoms.
"We've had some significantly bad influenza cases this year."
"In terms of vaccination cases we're about the same as last year which is reassuring.
"We're seeing people with influenza who have actually had the vaccine so that does make you wonder if it is a slightly different strain even though it is Influenza A.
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"Avoid people when you have the symptoms and avoid people who are coughing up half a lung, very basic stuff," Dr Richmond said.
As for the difference between the flu virus and the common cold Dr Richmond said "There are always bugs out there that look a bit like the flu which means you get the symptoms, a runny nose, cough, fever and feel pretty miserable".
"These are not necessarily influenza but we tend to use the lay term flu.
"They're all very infectious bugs spread by droplet spread, if you come in to contact with someone who has it you will be exposed and it's just a matter of whether you get sick or not depending on your immune system on the day.
"There's always bugs around that look like that, particularly when people are all inside, and in enclosed spaces."
Dr Richmond said Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Enterovirus were two conditions that presented similar to the Influenza Virus.
"While we were dealing with a number of cases of Influenza A in hospital a couple of swabs that we took looking for that also indicated other viruses including Respiratory Syncytial Virus which is commonly associated with Bronchiolitis in small babies and young children.
"It is also seen in older people and can look very similar to the Influenza viruses, in fact you might not be able to tell the difference just looking at an individual who is coughing and wheezing but often people with Influenza A are a bit sicker when they start getting the bug.
"Another bug that we saw that looked a bit similar with some people, particularly with headache and sinus problems was an Enterovirus which can also cause Diarrhea but causes respiratory symptoms as well," Dr Richmond said.
Western NSW Health says there have 1,521 cases of influenza in the district so far this year, compared with 85 cases during the same period in 2018.
While the incidence of influenza has jumped dramatically in Cowra its severity has been much worse in larger centres.
The five local government areas across the district with the most cases of influenza year to date include Bathurst with 400, Orange with 300, Dubbo with 214, Mid-Western Region with 122 and Blayney with 82 cases.
In Cabonne Shire, which includes Canowindra, there have been 63 cases reported, compared with six in 2018.
Flu shots are free under the National Immunisation Program for pregnant women, people over 65 years of age, Aboriginal people and those with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart problems.
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