Australian Influenza Surveillance Report – 2021 Influenza Season in Australia
Australian Influenza Surveillance Report No 07 – fortnight ending 04 July 2021
Key Messages
It is important to note that due to the COVID-19 epidemic in Australia, data reported from the various influenza surveillance systems may not represent an accurate reflection of influenza activity. Results should be interpreted with caution, especially where comparisons are made to previous influenza seasons. Interpretation of influenza activity data from April 2020 onwards should take into account, but are not limited to, the impact of social distancing measures, likely changes in health seeking behaviour of the community including access to alternative streams of acute respiratory infection specific health services, and focussed testing for COVID-19 response activities. Current COVID-19 related public health measures and the community’s adherence to public health messages are also likely having an effect on transmission of acute respiratory infections, including influenza.
Activity
While influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity in the community remains at historically low levels, it has continued to gradually increase since January 2021.
Notifications of laboratory-confirmed influenza have remained low since April 2020. In the year to date in 2021, there have been 388 notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) in Australia, of which 25 notifications had a diagnosis date this fortnight.
Severity
There is no indication of the potential severity of the 2021 season at this time.
In the year to date, of the 388 notifications of laboratory-confirmed influenza, no influenza-associated deaths have been notified to the NNDSS.
There have been no hospital admissions due to influenza reported across sentinel hospitals sites since commencement of surveillance in April 2021.
Impact
Given the low number of laboratory-confirmed influenza notifications, low community ILI activity, and no hospitalisations due to influenza at sentinel hospital sites, it is likely there is minimal impact on society due to influenza in 2021 to date.
Kate is right, “there is always someone in your corner”. She says: “Go to the campfires where the loving people are.” – “Sit beside them. Link arms. Laugh until your sides hurt. Sing with them. Listen.” –
I am waiting for the time when my ‘tribe’ can come to visit and share with me the beautiful deck that very dear young Aaron has crafted at the back of my house. It is a huge deck. I imagine a lot of people can one day use it for a beautiful get-together.
Yes, I believe that these dreams of mine can one day become true. Never mind the Coronavirus with this Delta variant, which is rather scary right now. But we are going to be watchful. So, I do believe, I still have a chance of dying of ‘old age’ rather than of this infectious virus . . . .
How lucky am I really, that the deck and a lot of other improvements could be finished before all these ‘hard’ lockdowns started! And Aaron was able to buy from Bunnings all the material that was needed before the prices went up!
A far as these lockdowns are concerned, well, they cannot last forever, can they now?
I wonder, what Christmas is going to be like this year, the second Christmas without Peter . . . .
Always have hope, dear hearts. Despite the things or people that tear your heart apart, believe anyway. There is always someone in your corner. Believe anyway. Go to the campfires where the loving people are. Sit beside them. Link arms. Laugh until your sides hurt. Sing with them. Listen. Watch their eyes sparkle when you arrive and when you share your heart. Your tribe can be pieced together like a beautiful quilt. You are a work of art and a work of heart. Simply you. Simply me. Simply Kate ❤
More than 120 people have died and hundreds are still missing after record rainfall caused the worst flooding in parts of Western Europe for many decades. In Germany dozens of people were unaccounted for, with the Chancellor Angela Merkel describing the floods as a catastrophe. Torrential rain has also devastated parts of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Survivors have described the terrifying speed at which water levels rose. Some politicians in Germany say the extreme weather is the result of global warming and they’re calling for more urgent action to counter climate change. Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting – from Jenny Hill in Erftstadt, Germany – Anna Holligan in the Dutch town of Valkenberg – and chief environment correspondent Justin Rowlatt on the threat posed by climate change.
Many people would be surprised to discover that Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716), a German polymath and logician best known for his discovery of Calculus, was one of the most important sinophiles of the 17thcentury, whose writings were instrumental in bringing the idea of Chinese culture and civilization to Europe.
Leibniz recognized the value of Chinese culture after an extensive study of Confucian texts provided to him by Jesuit scientists in Beijing. Inspired by the moral and practical philosophy that kept this ancient civilization alive (while European societies suffered nearly constant warfare), he created a journal calledNovissima Sinica(News from China) in 1697. The journal was followed by an organizing effort across Eurasia to bring about a vast dialogue of civilizations, driven by the pursuit of scientific discovery and economic development.
In the first issue of theNovissima Sinica,Leibniz wrote:
At least 58 people have died in parts of western Germany amid heavy rains and flooding, local police said on Thursday. Most of the deaths have been reported in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The flooding has heavily impacted transport in the region, which lies near the borders to Belgium, Luxembourg, France and the Netherlands. Weather forecasters say more rain is expected in the coming days.
Following Gaby’s passing on Sunday, 15th July 2012, there was a viewing on Monday, 23rd July, for family and friends. We were able to take photos at the viewing.
The funeral service took place on Tuesday, 24th July, 12,30 pm, at
ROOKWOOD GARDENS CREMATORIUM, SOUTH CHAPEL.
The officiating celebrant was Michael Bourke. Michael lives in our area and came to visit us on Saturday, 21st July, to discuss with us the order of service.
Bernie, our funeral director in Sydney, organized the viewing at the funeral parlor. Daughter Caroline and Matthew had made first contacts with Bernie. Caroline took time off work that week, Matthew went back to work and also filled in for Caroline a bit. Son Martin took time off work too. He arrived from Melbourne in a hired car late on Wednesday, 18th July.
Martin drove daughters Caroline and Monika as well as Peter and myself to the funeral directors in Sydney on Thursday, 19th July, to make arrangements for the funeral. (Monika had taken time off work too.) Peter had that same day an appointment with an officer at Merrylands police station. After the consultation with Bernie for all the funeral arrangements we were on our way to Merrylands. The traffic turned out to be extremely slow moving because of an incident. So we were late getting to Merrylands. The police were very understanding. The interview with the police took about two hours. They wanted to know a lot about Gaby’s life.
By the way, on the day of Gaby’s departure Caroline and Matthew had driven us first to Merrylands West to Gaby’s house where we had a chance to talk to all the distressed carers including David. Later in the day Matthew drove us to Glebe. He had arranged that we could view Gaby’s body there at the morgue. The visit was very good for us. It gave us a chance to say properly good-bye to Gaby. A very understanding woman greeted us very respectfully. She made arrangements with Caroline to talk to her on the phone on our behalf whenever we had any questions. Caroline stayed with us at our place and was constantly doing all the necessary phone-calls for us. It was such a relief for us that she could do this. She was great in handling all the calls.
On Sunday, the 15th, when we were at Gaby’s house for an hour or so, we took some of Gaby’s photo albums along and also her computer, her digital camera and her mobile phone. The following day the police asked Peter to bring all these electronic items of Gaby’s to the next police station. At present these items are still in the hands of the police for further checking and investigation.
Early on Wednesday morning, 18th July, Ryan and Ebony had a baby boy. They called him Lucas. Ryan is one of Monika’s twins. So Monika is now a grandma. And Peter and I are great grandparents again! Our son Martin has already two grandchildren. So the family is growing. Caroline drove Peter and me to Wollongong hospital to see the new born baby boy. He was surrounded by his Mum and Dad and a number of aunties. We were all allowed to hold him. The baby was most of the time asleep and didn’t mind at all being passed from one to the other. It was a very joyous experience for all of us.
From 11,30 on people arrived at Rookwood Memorial Gardens on the day of the funeral service. The Pall Bearers were our son Martin, Monika’s partner Mark, Monika’s twins, Troy and Ryan, Carolines’s partner Matthew and Gaby’s friend Steve. Welcome by Michael Bourke, Celebrant: Tributes by Peter, Soloist Elice Craig, and a choir of carers and friends singing Amazing Grace. Next a Photographic tribute with images of Gaby: Her life, her family, her friends. Prayers: One Hail Mary. Verse: Michael Bourke and Committal.
The South Chapel of Roodwood Gardens Crematorium
Four of the Pall BearersCaroline and Michael BourkeSteve had brought Dave to the service. Dave decided he didn’t want to go inside. He preferred to stay in the car.
After the service the celebrations of Gaby’s life were to continue at Parramatta Leagues Club. We stayed there for a while for drinks and to talk to people. Some nice pizza was available too.
Entrance to Parramatta Leagues ClubMiriam with an ‘Eels’ Shawl. Miriam used to be Gaby’s cook.Still want to include this picture of Gaby’s coffin inside the South ChapelMonika looked after ‘Honey’ and took her inside the chapel for the service.This is when the funeral car arrived at the Crematorium
Caroline, with some input from Matthew, did a tremendous amount of work in assembling the photos for the photographic tribute. She also organized the printing of the cards for the funeral service. Caroline stayed with Peter and me from the 15th of July until the day of the funeral. Martin stayed with us for one whole week too, and for part of the time Matthew stayed also with us. Recently Caroline stayed with us once more for a few days to sort out things and to give us some support. We’ve been driving with Caroline to some beautiful places here in our area. A lot of these places remind us of Gaby, of course. In our home we constantly find things that remind us of Gaby. Gaby had been a very demanding person, but also very loving and caring. She made sure that we’ll never forget her.
Lucas, born in the early hours of Wednesday, 18th July 2012.
This is Lucas, one week old
The parents of Lucas on the day of his birth in Wollongong Hospital
Great Grandma Uta with Lucas
Great Grandparents, Uta and Peter with Baby Lucas
Three aunts of Lucas stayed with him for hours in the hospital room.
Ebony, the Mum, likes the attention her baby son is getting
Happy faces all around
Great-Aunt Caroline with the baby
Grandma Monika and the three Aunties had been staying already for about an hour with the proud parents and the Baby when Caroline, Peter and I arrived. They stayed for another hour or so after we left!
A week later we saw Ebony at her home. Caroline holds Lucas with Ebony looking on.
AuntyUta 