Flu cases double in South Australia as the elderly face an early spike

Influenza cases in South Australia have doubled this year with elderly people among the worst affected.

Some 1,519 cases of influenza have been recorded so far, compared with about 700 at the same time in 2014.

Outbreaks have been reported at 15 aged care facilities, with a delay in flu vaccine production blamed as a potential culprit behind the spike.

Chief medical officer Paddy Philips said production delays were caused by the need to add two new strains to the vaccine this year.

"The flu vaccine arrived a bit later than normal in March and April and, possibly because that's led to some delays, it's led to an early start to the flu season," he said.

Read more...http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-25/flu-cases-double-in-sa-as-the-elderly-face-an-early-spike/6496092