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Home
Influenza
Influenza
Statutory notification alert
Influenza viral infection is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
See
notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB)
.
Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for
metropolitan residents (PDF 214KB)
or
regional residents (PDF 213KB)
.
For notification of regional residents see contact details of
public health units (Healthy WA)
.
See also description of
Statutory medical notifications in Western Australia
.
Public health management
Important information
Infectious agent
: Influenza virus, mainly types A, B and C and many subtypes and strains
.
Transmission
: Influenza viruses are mainly spread by droplets made when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Influenza can also be spread through touching surfaces where infected droplets have landed.
Incubation period
: Usually 1 to 3 days.
Infectious period:
People with influenza can be infectious from the day before their symptoms start. Adults are most infectious in the first 3-5 days of their illness, while children remain infectious for 7-10 days, and people with weakened immune systems may be infectious for longer.
Case exclusion
: Recommend cases exclude themselves until symptoms resolve.
Contact exclusion:
Do not exclude.
Treatment:
Generally bed rest and symptomatic treatment. Specific influenza antiviral medicines can reduce the severity and the duration of influenza if taken soon after onset of symptoms.
Immunisation
: Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all people aged > 6 months. It is strongly recommended, and free, through the National Immunisation Program and WA state-funded programs for: children aged > 6 months up to 5 years; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged > 6 months; pregnant people; people aged ≥65 years, healthcare workers and people with certain health conditions; See
Influenza Immunisation
,
Western Australian Immunisation Schedule
and
Australian Immunisation Handbook
.
Case follow-up
: Public health action focuses on outbreaks in high-risk settings such as health care facilities, special schools, residential care facilities, and Aboriginal communities.
Guidelines
Influenza infection national guidelines for public health units (external site)
National Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Public Health Management of Outbreaks of Acute Respiratory Infection (including COVID-19 and Influenza) in Residential Care Facilities (external site)
Communicable Disease Guidelines, for teachers, child care workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners (PDF 386KB)
Western Australian Immunisation Schedule (PDF 197KB)
Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – Influenza (flu) (external site)
Notifiable disease data and reports
Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
General infectious disease reports
Further information
Influenza (flu) vaccine (HealthyWA)
Influenza (flu) vaccine – what pregnant women need to know (HealthyWA)
Produced by
Public Health
Related links
Influenza (HealthyWA)
Influenza immunisation