Killer flu worst to hit Victoria in past 15 years
The deadly flu that has swept across Victoria and claimed the lives of a number of people is the worst outbreak in the state in 15 years.
Seven residents, aged between 70 to 94, died at Wangaratta's St John's Retirement Village in the fortnight up to Wednesday and one is still fighting for life in hospital.
The strain of influenza has already struck twice as many Victorians as last year with over 11,000 reported cases in 2017.
"It may be better to have it in April so that when we are getting the peak in August, the community that has been vaccinated is the most protected still," Dr Lorraine Baker from AMA Victoria said.
The severity of the 2017 flu outbreak is the worst the health chief has seen in the past seven years.
"We are at the peak of one of the worst flu seasons ever and the elderly are one of highest-risk groups," Victorian chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton said.
More than 120 St John's staff and residents have been struck down by the flu over the past three weeks.
A dozen residents are still ill and one remains in a critical condition.
Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency would conduct a review of the facility once the outbreak subsided.
Six people have also died as a result of the flu in recent weeks at a Tasmanian retirement home.
