The arrival of 250,000 World Youth Day pilgrims from over 100 countries may be to blame for exotic strains of flu circulating in Australia, a medical researcher says. The Daily Telegraph reports nurses are reporting high rates of virulent infections among New South Wales hospital patients with "new and unusual strains of flu from exotic places''.
NSW Health said there were four main strains of flu circulating in the state, with higher than usual levels of type B influenza.
Dr Gordian Fulde, of Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital, has just completed research into the health impact of World Youth Day.
"It's certain that some of (the pilgrims) would have been sick,'' he told the Telegraph.
"That's a public health problem - the world really is now a small place. If you are sick but have got an airline ticket to somewhere, you will go and take that cold or virus with you.''
Dr Fulde said the flu virus appeared to be more virulent this year.
NSW Nurses' Association assistant secretary Judith Kiejda said it was common for flu to be spread from the northern hemisphere into Australia although it would be difficult to prove pilgrims were responsible for recent outbreaks.
But NSW Health said pilgrims were treated for flu during the week long religious event. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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(Source: CNA)