The flu season could last until the end of August in a worst case scenario, according to Counties Manukau District Health Board. The DHB's director of population health Dr Gary Jackson said the normal flu season, which included a range of winter respiratory illnesses, normally only lasted for about four weeks. The DHB has attributed the surge in patients to winter viruses and the impact of staff taking time off due to Covid-19. Photo: LDRDr Nikki Turner, the medical director of the University of Auckland's Immunisation Advisory Centre, said this year's flu season came earlier than expected and had been particularly nasty. She said while Monday's announcement of more free flu vaccines was good, it would have been more effective if it had been done prior to the start of the flu season.

Source: Stuff June 28, 2022 08:08 UTC