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SHARP SCRATCH NOW: Melanie Williams gives Courtenay King a flu vaccination.

Will you get a flu jab this year?

As New Zealand prepares for its second bout of the killer flu strain circling the world, health experts are warning of the potential for major problems in Christchurch and urging Cantabrians to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Last year, Canterbury was hit by a deadly influenza H3N2 virus that landed 347 people in hospital - four times the national rate.

The flu strain then hit the United States, where hundreds of people have died from influenza-associated illnesses, including 105 children.

The influenza vaccination programme started in schools last week. It is free for Cantabrians under18, and the region's health sector is pushing for people to get immunised.

Pegasus Health chief executive Vince Barry feared stressed Cantabrians could be more susceptible than other Kiwis.

"People are tired and if we have a bad winter and if we don't have the right inoculation, there is the potential for major problems ... The perfect storm could be brewing," he said.

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) clinical virologistLance Jennings said it was likely the influenza A (H3N2) strain would hit New Zealand shores again this winter.

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Jabs urged for a flu-fighting chance

BERLIN (AP) - A man from the United Arab Emirates who was infected with a new SARS-related virus has died in Munich, German authorities said Tuesday.

The case brings the number of confirmed human cases of new coronavirus infection worldwide to 17, according to the World Health Organization. Of these, 11 have died.

The city hospital in Munich said the 73-year-old patient, who was transferred from Abu Dhabi on March 19, had been suffering from an unspecified "serious underlying condition" that meant his chances of survival had been slim.

The new virus was first identified last year in the Middle East, and most of the patients infected had traveled to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Pakistan.

In recent weeks two people in Britain have also died after becoming infected with the virus, most likely from family members.

The new coronavirus is part of a group of viruses that cause ailments including the common cold and SARS. In 2003, a global outbreak of SARS killed about 800 people worldwide.

Health experts still aren't sure exactly how humans are being infected. The new coronavirus is most closely related to a bat virus and scientists are considering whether bats or other animals like goats or camels are a possible source of infection.

The World Health Organization has asked countries to notify it of all new cases of new coronavirus infection but hasn't recommended travel or trade restrictions.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Emirati man dies of SARS-linked virus in Germany

For many Americans, especially young adults, polio is a disease that not only has no relevance to their lives, they may not even be sure what it is or how it affects the body.

But make no mistake, polioan incurable, extremely contagious, and life-altering diseaseis a daily reality for some citizens in three countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. In these places, this killer virus still holds sway, even while polio has long been absent from most countries in the world.

Where Being a Vaccine Worker Can Be Deadly

Globally, there were 223 cases of polio infection reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012. When we think of how many people are in the world, this number seems almost insignificant, right? Want to eradicate polio? No problem! With a little money and a few volunteers, we can have that off the to-do list by Christmas, right?

Not so fast. What makes polio a virus to watch is precisely because there are so few cases left. In spite of this tiny number of cases, for years, we have not been able to eradicate it. And because we live in an interconnected global society, we still need to be wise about vaccine-preventable diseases, even those not typically found in our hometown. Measles, a disease eliminated from the United States in 2000, still pops up (222 times in 2011) because its imported from other countries.

Polio's Final Strongholds: Where People Mistrust Vaccination

Polio is also a virus we need to pay attention to because it is at the center of grim international news: Efforts to finally get rid of the disease in some of the countries where it continues to exist are putting health workers at risk of death.

There are three types of poliovirus (called p1, p2, and p3). Unfortunately, having immunity to one does nothing to protect you from the other two. The virus is spread through fecal-oral transmission, and sometimes, oral-oral transmission. It typically lives in the pharynx (throat) and the GI tract. A person infected with polio can be contagious for up to ten days before experiencing symptoms, and can shed the virus through feces for up to six weeks after symptoms. For a virus this infectious, thats no good. What is good, however, is that humans (and no animals) are believed to be the only long-term hosts for polio. If we can stop transmission in people, we should be able to eradicate polio once and for all.

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Why 223 Cases of Polio Still Matter

Doctors are worried a killer flu that led to the death of 64 children in the United States will hit New Zealand's shores this winter.

Waikato DHB medical officer of health Dr Felicity Dumble said she was concerned about the deadly serious virus hitting at any stage, despite the warm weather sticking around.

"The timing of New Zealand's influenza season is unpredictable but we may see the disease arriving earlier than usual as has happened in the northern hemisphere," she said.

US numbers showed that people 65 and over accounted for more than half of all reported influenza-associated hospitalisations - the highest number since records began in 2005. The next highest group were children under four years old.

But although elderly and very young patients were particularly vulnerable, Dr Dumble said that everyone should be taking steps to prevent themselves from catching the virus. "No matter how fit and healthy you are, we are all at risk of catching this disease," said Dr Dumble. "Influenza vaccination is the best way to reduce your risk of catching this disease and lessen symptoms and complications if you do."

The 2013 vaccine arrived in GP surgeries across New Zealand this week and immunisation is free from a GP or nurse for New Zealanders at high risk of complications - pregnant women, people aged 65 and over, and for people of any age with long-term health conditions.

"It takes two weeks to develop immunity following vaccination so being vaccinated before the season starts will gain you the most benefit," Dr Dumble said. Along with the fear of a deadly flu, Waikato is seeing increasing cases of pertussis (whooping cough).

The latest Public Health Bulletin shows Waikato had 63 reported cases in February, up 41 on the same month last year with 124 since July 1 last year.

"We had the second-highest notification rate in New Zealand last month.

"We encourage pregnant women to ask their doctor about the free pertussis vaccine when receiving their influenza vaccine. Both vaccines are recommended and funded for pregnant women, as the viruses cause high risk to mother and baby and are circulating at epidemic levels."

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Doctors urge vaccination as ' killer ' virus looms

Published: 4:40PM Friday March 22, 2013 Source: ONE News

Source: Photos.com

A 'killer flu' is expected to strike New Zealand this year, with one district health board already advising people to have an influenza vaccination.

Waikato DHB medical officer of health Dr Felicity Dumble said she is concerned about the flu which saw 64 children die in the United States from influenza-associated illnesses during their winter.

Coupled with that, Waikato is seeing increasing cases of pertussis.

The latest Public Health Bulletin shows Waikato had 63 reported cases in February, up 41 on the same month last year with 124 year to date since 1 July.

Of the 163 notified cases since 1 January 2012, 57 were from Hamilton, 12 from Matamata Piako, seven from Hauraki, nine from Otorohanga, three from Ruapehu, eight from South Waikato, 22 from Thames Coromandel, 16 from Waikato district, 16 from Waipa and three from Waitomo.

"We had the second highest notification rate in New Zealand last month," says Dumble.

"We encourage pregnant women to ask their doctor about the free pertussis vaccine when receiving their influenza vaccine. Both vaccines are recommended and funded for pregnant women, as the viruses cause high risk to mother and baby and are circulating at epidemic levels."

The National Influenza Specialist Group (NISG) and national District Health Boards (DHBs) advise that influenza vaccinations are the most effective way to fight the epidemic levels of infection that struck the Northern Hemisphere winter.

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' Killer flu' expected to hit NZ this winter