Influenza Infection: A Public Health Concern and Strategies

Influenza Infection 1
INFLUENZA INFECTION
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Influenza Infection 2
Influenza Infection
Introduction
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness, which causes seasonal epidemics in
Australia. The disease spreads from individual to another via droplets made when an infected
individuals sneezes, coughs or talks. Influenza infection has become a global illness that affects
human population via epidemics plus pandemics. Influenza symptoms comprise fever plus chills,
cough, tiredness, sore throat and joint and muscle pain. Nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting are
possible, particularly in children (Hayward, Fragaszy & Bermingham, 2014, pp. 445). In severe
influenza infections, symptoms get quickly worse, as well as complications may surface. The
World Health Organization (WHO) approximates that yearly influenza infection leads to around
3-5 million instances of cruel disease with a huge trouble of illness comprising between 250,000
and 500,000 deaths along with considerable healthcare costs. The burden of the influenza
infection is highest for those at danger of connected complications, that is, younger and older
individuals and females who are pregnant. Thus, these indicators are attributed to the presence of
age in addition to sex variations in influenza epidemic (Sullivan, Komadina & Grant, 2014, pp.
1017). Thus, age differences in the rates of diverse types of influenza diseases have been
recorded in many researches. Sex differences in the influenza infection have not been researched
extensively and there is limited data on this; however, they might exist because of differences in
immune and hormonal reactions to the infection. Anyone may be infected with the disease, but
some individuals like adults aged 65 years, pregnant females, as well as indigenous Australians
have greater likelihood of serious diseased and complications, like pneumonia. Giefing-Kroll et
al. (2015) assert that sex differences in influenza infection, with premenopausal females

Influenza Infection 3
vulnerable to epidemic influenza plus males are susceptible to seasonal influenza. The paper will
analyse influenza as a public health concern, risk factors for influenza infections, and public
health strategies.
Public Health Issue
Influenza is a seasonal illness in temperate areas that is caused by a virus. The disease is
effortlessly transmitted from individual to another via ways like sneezing or coughing. There ate
three types of influenza virus that affect individuals; however, only type A and B cause severe
outbreak plus illness. The National Influenza Surveillance Scheme (NISS) affirmed that
influenza A was the most widespread strain of the virus recognized in 2017. Individuals with
weak immune systems who are aged in addition to who have other chronic health states are at
higher risk of contacting and developing cruel instance of influenza infection (Hayward et al.,
2014, pp. 445). The people affected by the disease differ significantly from year to year relying
on features of the circulating virus, as well as the extent of immunity in the populace (Sullivan et
al., 2014, pp. 1019).
Influenza has been recognized that the effect of the disease is often considerably
underestimated. From 2006-2013 (not including the 2009 epidemic year), around 100 deaths and
around 5,100 hospitalizations were recorded because of influenza in Australia. Also, in 2017
influenza period, the greatest levels of action since the 2009 epidemic year were reported. About
1,100 mortalities were recorded countrywide amongst notified cases of lab long-established
influenza. Nonetheless, a mathematical modelling research approximated that the disease is
probable to be linked to over 3,000 deaths and 13,500 hospitalizations annually in Australia for

Influenza Infection 4
individuals with more than 50 years. In 2016, there were around 12,000 hospitalizations for
influenza infections in Australia and the number of hospital visits rises and falls every year
relying on the features of the specific influenza season. Hospitalization rates are universally
greatest among children aged 5 years plus adults over the age of 65 years (Nolan, 2010, pp. 76).
Between 1997 and 2016, influenza infections resulted in 2,316 deaths in Australia, 80 per
cent (1,847 deaths) of which were in individuals with 65 years and over. During this period,
there was an average of 31 influenza mortalities per million populations annually among the
older persons in Australia compared with 2 per million populations annually in children with five
years and below. Individuals with current health complications, including destabilized immune
systems where aged persons are at a higher threat of influenza infection (Ghosh & Klein, 2017,
pp. 1783). In 2017, individuals who died from the illness had an average of 4.3 conditions
scheduled on their death certificate, contrasted to 3.4 for general deaths. Dementia comprising
Alzheimer’s illness plus chronic respiratory illnesses were most widespread certified condition,
present in about 25 per cent and 20 percent of deaths of individuals who perished from the
disease correspondingly. Nonetheless, these facts can underestimate the actual impact of
influenza on mortalities in Australia, because the majority of the persons who die would not have
been tested for the disease. There are many groups that are at a superior danger of influenza
infections plus its problems and who encounter increased mortality in addition to morbidity
linked to influenza contrasted to other members of the populace. Thus, the greatest rates of
influenza infection notifications and hospital admissions are observed in older and young persons
and adolescents. Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander persons face a higher illness burden