Why Is Everyone Sick Right Now? What’s Happening This Cold, Flu And Covid Season

There’s been an increase in cold and flu illnesses, but
Covid-19
cases have been around all summer and are expected to spike
as winter nears, experts say.

“We are starting to see
an increase in respiratory illnesses,” General Practice New
Zealand chair Porirua GP Bryan Betty said.

“Those flus
and colds you often see in winter are certainly starting to
pick up as the weather gets colder.”

Children were
presenting more often but it was starting to affect
different age groups too. Schools are splitting classes up
and sending students home as they struggle
to find enough relief teachers to cover staff
sickness.

“We’re only starting the winter illness
season now,” he said, expecting an increase in cases in June
and July.

There were also cases of RSV (Respiratory
Syncytial Virus) and adenovirus that GPs were
seeing.

“General practice is under more pressure at
this point. We know that it can be difficult at times to
access your general practitioner,” Betty said.

The
national telehealth service, which runs 24/7, was a good
start if a GP was hard to access, he said.

Health
bosses were also pointing people to pharmacies
as a first port of call, warning Healthline call volumes
increased during winter.

It comes as Te Whatu Ora
Health NZ looks at extending
telehealth to include overseas-based doctors.

“We
are now in the ‘flu season’,” Otago University
epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker said.

It
typically runs from May to October in New Zealand.

It
was also when the highest rates of influenza, RSV, and other
seasonal respiratory infections circulate.

“Currently
we are seeing a large rise in RSV infections, and
rhinovirus, as well as moderate numbers of influenza cases
(including both influenza A subtypes and influenza B),”
Baker said.

He said a rise in respiratory infections
was in the usual range for this time of the year based on
calls to Healthline, and hospitalisations for severe acute
respiratory infections (SARI).

‘Sharp increase’ in
Covid cases

Covid had been around all summer, and it
was still circulating through the community, Betty
said.

“At this point, we’re not seeing a huge upswing,
however, we would expect to see Covid cases increase over
winter.”

Baker said while current wastewater testing
and hospitalisations showed a “sharp increase in cases, we
will need to wait for another week or two to see if this
increase is sustained”.

Covid was not a “seasonal
infection” with cases popping up all year round, he
said.

“Some of our largest peaks have been in summer –
such as the fifth wave we are currently coming out
of.”

People should get vaccinated against the flu and
Covid, particularly those in an at-risk group, Betty and
Baker said.

“Stay home for at least five days if you
have respiratory symptoms. Wear a mask in enclosed indoor
environments with other people, such as public transport and
health care waiting rooms,” Baker said.

And Health NZ
was also urging people to have a plan and get
vaccinated.

For those with pre-existing health issues,
who may need more complex medical support, Health NZ primary
and community care clinical director Dr Sarah Clarke said
contacting their GP was “a critical part of winter
preparedness”.

“If you have conditions like asthma,
COPD or other chronic diseases, make sure you make a plan
with your GP practice for if you get sick and, most
importantly, ensure you have enough medication to last you
through the colder
months.”

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