Flu epidemic hits hospital hard

Elective surgery has been postponed as Hawke's Bay Hospital reels from the impact of the flu bug and other viruses which have hit staff and patients and filled its beds.

The hospital is "full to capacity", Hawke's Bay District Health Board's chief operating officer Ray Lind said.

It was the second time in as many months that the hospital has been hit hard by people suffering from seasonal illnesses.

Mr Lind urged people to take steps to look after themselves.

"If you or your children are sick, take time off to recover before going back to work or sending your children back to school," Mr Lind said.

"It's vitally important to seek medical attention early, from your GP or medical centre. In many cases a trip to the doctor for expert advice and treatment can stop people getting so sick that they have to be admitted to hospital," he said.

Mr Lind also made a plea to the local community to rally round and support elderly family and neighbours.

"We are also seeing increasing numbers of previously independent people who live alone, succumbing to a raft of winter ailments," he said.

Due to their home situation, these people would not be discharged until appropriate support services were put in place.

Meanwhile, Waikato children are also missing school in their hundreds as the potentially fatal strain takes hold.

Waikato schools reported more than 1000 students missing classes.

Many schools have noticed a definite spike in the number of students missing school with the flu and also staying sick for longer. Most are away for up to a week.

There will be at least two more weeks of sick kids, Chris Mansell, a clinical microbiologist at Waikato Hospital, said.

Dr Mansell said the region was into the fourth week of what was expected to be a six-week epidemic.

One of the three young people who have died in recent weeks from the deadly flu strain was William MacErlich, a 16-year-old boarder at Hamilton Boys' High School. He died on May 31 from complications from influenza after showing signs of fever, lethargy and swollen glands.

The Thames student was treated with throat lozenges and antibiotics before his death.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY, additional reporting by nzpa