With what could be the height of the already bad flu season in the state still to come, RACGP WA Chair Ramya Raman said doctors remained on high alert for symptoms of influenza.
It comes as the mother of a toddler who died from influenza in May shared their story in the hope others will understand the risk of flu.
In WA the flu season peaked in August last year with 4577 recorded that month. Cases recorded in July this year topped that number and could be higher in August.
A total of 4574 influenza cases have been recorded and Dr Raman said cases often tend to spike in August and sometimes into September.
An open letter shared by the mother of a two-year-old who died from influenza in Perth, distributed by the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, told of how the respiratory virus can so quickly become fatal.
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The parents of Aabi, who was three months away from her third birthday when she died as the result of complications from influenza, shared how her daughter’s immune system responded “much more aggressively than usual” leading to acute inflammation and severe damage to her brain.
They wrote that while over a period of 24 hours her daughter had vomited, then had a fever and complained of a headache, she had minimal initial symptoms that gave indication of the extreme seriousness of the situation.
However, the situation changed quickly and Aabi had to be rushed to the emergency department of Perth Children’s Hospital.
Her parents shared that within the short space of time from when her daughter’s blood tests showed she had influenza, she had a seizure, was taken to ICU and had to be intubated before an MRI confirmed total brain death due to acute necrotising encephalitis.
“We lost our beautiful Aabi at the hands of what seemed like a mere virus,” they said.
Immunisation Foundation Australia founder Catherine Hughes, who lost her own son to whooping cough in 2015, said Aabi’s tragic death was a profound reminder of the devastating impact vaccine-preventable diseases can have on a family.
“Influenza is far more than ‘just a bad cold’. It can lead to severe complications, hospitalisation, and even death, even in otherwise healthy individuals. Aabi’s passing tragically illustrates this reality,” she said.
WA has recorded five flu deaths so far this year. While the State Government’s free flu vaccination is due to finish at the end of July, Ms Hughes wants to see free flu vaccinations continue.
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WA Health Department statistics from July 13 show just 26.7% of people in the state are vaccinated against the flu.
Ms Hughes added: “Given the high number of flu cases – and the fact that most children are still not vaccinated for influenza this year – free flu vaccinations should continue throughout the winter months.
“There are already too many barriers to accessing flu immunisation, such as time constraints, transport issues, and coordinating family schedules; cost simply shouldn’t be an additional hurdle.
“We strongly advocate for sustained, free access to flu vaccinations to remove this financial barrier.”
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However, Ms Hughes said the government needed to do more than offer the vaccinations for free.
“The government needs a truly multipronged approach to boost immunisation rates,” she said.
“This includes supporting community-driven initiatives that empower families with accurate, accessible information, expanding convenient vaccination points like pop-up clinics in family-friendly locations, and actively tracking and countering misinformation on digital platforms.
“Only through a comprehensive strategy can we ensure every Australian has the best possible protection against influenza.”
Dr Raman said GPs were on high alert for symptoms of not only influenza but other respiratory viruses.
“We are in the winter season and it’s the respiratory season as well, I’ve seen many today, even just in terms of respiratory symptoms. It is not just influenza, it is also COVID and RSV that we are seeing a lot of.”
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