The days of ‘soldiering on’ when sick are over, according to a West Moreton public health specialist, who is urging residents to stay home when sick this winter.
Dr Penny Hutchinson, a physician with the West Moreton Public Health Unit, said staying home benefits the sick person, their close circle of friends, and the wider community of co-workers, schools, hospitals and childcare centres.
“It takes longer for you to get better if you continue to go to work or school when you’re sick,” she said.
“And we saw, during those early waves of COVID-19, just how interconnected we all are when it comes to the spread of viruses.
“Busy people tend to think they have to ‘soldier on’ when sick, instead of resting and recovering.
“But they will be doing themselves – and everyone around them – a huge favour if they stay home.”
Whooping cough (pertussis) is spreading through the West Moreton community at 16 times the mean across the previous five years, according to Queensland Health.
Whooping cough is a serious disease that can lead to pneumonia, fits and brain damage from lack of oxygen, particularly in babies and young children.
You can get whooping cough at any age, but people most at risk include babies under six months (because they are too young to be fully vaccinated) and people who haven’t had a whooping cough booster vaccination in 10 years.
‘Walking pneumonia’ (mycoplasma pneumonia) is also spreading widely in the community this year.
So far in 2024, West Moreton has recorded 2,076 cases of influenza; 3,106 cases of COVID-19; and 2,252 cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“These numbers represent people who have been sick enough to be tested by a doctor,” Dr Hutchinson said. “There will be countless others who were not tested.”
COVID-19 spreads at any time of year, while the flu (influenza) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) mostly spready during the colder months from April to August.
These illnesses can cause very serious illness in otherwise healthy people, especially young children, the elderly and people already burdened with other illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease.
The best protection against winter illnesses is good hygiene, staying home when sick, and vaccination.
Hygiene measures
- The best hygiene measures are to wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and consider cleaning frequently touched surfaces like your phone, taps, or door handles.
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, throw used tissues into the bin, and wash your hands after.
- Consider wearing a mask if you are vulnerable or if you are unwell and need to leave the house.
Vaccination
- Vaccination is the best way to protect against serious illness or being hospitalised with the flu or COVID-19. COVID-19 spreads year-round.
- People over 65, (or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people over 50) are at very high risk of serious health complications from the flu and COVID-19.
- Residents can receive the free flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 booster dose from a pharmacy or GP.
- Free RSV immunisation is now offered to all newborns birthed in Ipswich Hospital, as part of the state-wide RSV immunisation program.
- Whooping cough is a serious disease that can lead to pneumonia, fits and brain damage from a lack of oxygen, particularly in babies and young children. Visit your GP to discuss eligibility for vaccination.
More information
- For information on the flu, visit the Queensland Government website Vaccination Matters: https://www.vaccinate.initiatives.qld.gov.au/what-to-vaccinate-against
- Whooping cough (pertussis) | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
- To track the rise of notifiable conditions in West Moreton, visit: Notifiable conditions weekly totals | Queensland Health