The rate of disease was not quite back to below the baseline seasonal level, but was well below the average seasonal rate, according to ESR figures. The rate of disease was not quite back to below the baseline seasonal level, but was well below the average seasonal rate. GP visits, GP influenza cases and emergency department visits all fell markedly in recent days, as did influenza-related hospital stays and cases. SDHB public health physician Anura Jayasinghe said influenza-like illness rates for GP visits in the south had not decreased in the past week. "Overall levels for southern district for this year remain just above the seasonal baseline level and are in line with national data."

Source: Otago Daily Times July 19, 2019 16:30 UTC