Influenza (the flu) is an infectious illness which spreads very easily from person to person.  Influenza is different to a cold, and can be a much more serious illness.  Influenza is more common during the winter months.  

Get immunised to protect against influenza

Having an influenza immunisation each year is the best protection against influenza.  The 2012 influenza vaccine contains the same three virus strains as the 2010 and 2011 influenza vaccines.  However people should still be vaccinated this year because immunity decreases over time, and therefore having a flu vaccination offers better protection for the 2012 influenza season.

Influenza fact sheet

Auckland Regional Public Health Service has produced a fact sheet about influenza  (PDF, 45.77 KB).   

Ministry of Health web pages about influenza

There is a lot of useful information about influenza on the Ministry of Health website, including:

•  A summary page with general information about influenza

•  Symptoms of influenza, the difference between influenza and a cold, high risk groups, and danger signs for adults, young children and babies.

• Treatment, caring for yourself if you have the flu, and caring for others including babies and children.

•  Prevention, including information about immunisation for pregnant women, good hygiene to stop the spread of flu, and being prepared for a pandemic.

Seek urgent medical advice if there are danger signs

If you or someone you are looking after has influenza and is getting worse, or has certain warning symptoms or signs, you should call your GP for advice or call Healthline on 0800 611 166. The danger signs to look out for are listed on the Ministry of Health website and are also listed in the Auckland Regional Public Health Service influenza fact sheet.

Influenza is not a notifiable disease

Influenza is not usually a notifiable disease, unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example during a pandemic.  From 1 January 2011, pandemic influenza H1N1 was removed from the list of notifiable diseases in New Zealand.  Therefore doctors and laboratories are no longer required to notify cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 to the Medical Officer of Health.

Advice for residential institutions, early childhood education centres and schools

Auckland Regional Public Health Service has produced advice for residential institutions, early childhood education centres (ECECs), schools and other institutions in the Auckland region (PDF, 230 KB) on managing cases and outbreaks of influenza.