Australia faces a devastating ‘multi-demic’ attack from a vicious cocktail of viruses attacking the nation, a top medical expert has warned.
The country is nearly defenseless against a range of different illnesses after years of isolation, as Covid lockdowns have failed to test Aussies’ immune systems against common viruses.
Now the rapid spread of deadly insects is fueled by cold, damp winter conditions, plus staff returning to offices and commuting on crowded trains and buses.
And that comes on top of new variants of Covid that are raging through the population.
Australia faces devastating multi-demic attack from vicious cocktail of viruses attacking nation, top medical expert has warned
“We are facing a multi-demism of respiratory viruses,” Professor Robert Booy, an infectious disease expert at the University of Sydney, told the… courier post†
“There are three or four of them that cause problems – flu, RSV, parainfluenza, adenovirus, HMPV… There are many.
“Because we were in lockdown for two years, the level of natural immunity to flu and Covid went down, so we have a lot of cases and deaths from Omicron and the opening of a society with less natural immunity.
“If you want to spread an infection, you open up society.”
After two years of on-off, off-and-on lockdown, diseases kept at bay through social distancing are now spreading rapidly, along with the new Covid strains.
NSW alone is facing a massive outbreak of RSV that can kill infants, with the number increasing tenfold from 355 cases per week to 3,775 per week in less than a month.
Businesses on the country’s east coast have also been decimated by workers who have fallen ill as the array of viruses wreaks havoc and spreads like wildfire.
Bosses have recently reported a spike in absenteeism — and working from home — among staff.
Cold, damp winter conditions as staff return to offices and commute in crowded trains and buses fuels the rapid spread of the deadly insects
Professor Catherine Bennett, an epidemiologist, told Daily Mail Australia that flu shots and Covid boosters are essential to stop the spread, along with the return of widespread masks.
“In the eastern states of Australia, we knew we were going to have the flu,” says the Deakin University professor.
“Not only have people not had it in the past two years, it has not been at the forefront of vaccination.
“We haven’t had that exposure or immunization in the last two years, so people’s immune systems are much weaker.
“We’ve seen that happen and that’s why the flu vaccine is so much more important this year and that’s why it’s been made available for free.
“I keep telling anyone who doesn’t have it that it’s still worth getting.”
Australia recently reached the grim milestone of 10,000 Covid-19-related deaths, with more than 7,000 fatalities in the past six months
Australia recently reached the grim milestone of 10,000 Covid-related deaths, with more than 7,000 fatalities in the last six months alone.
Prof Bennett said good hygiene and face masks are vital to avoid getting sick while returning to normal life.
“Although the exposure risk is so high because Covid and flu continue to spread, if you practice good hygiene and wear a face mask, you’ll get more bang for your buck,” she said.
“Masks are so worth it. While it won’t absolutely stop you from getting it, wearing a mask will protect yourself and others and make you subconsciously more aware of keeping your distance from others
Prof Bennett also said it is important that people on public transport follow the rules and wear their masks – and keep work areas well ventilated.
Professor Catherine Bennett says face masks are essential to keep yourself and the community safe as multiple viruses flood the country
“We should have masks and we have those public transport rules and some are still not following them,” said Dr Bennett.
“We need to think about those with underlying conditions, whether they’re on chemo or immunocompromised and dependent on public transportation to get around.
“We have a duty to think of the rest of the general public and we know we run the risk of passing this on to the most vulnerable.
“And when you’re inside, make sure you turn on a fan, open a window, and ventilate only the interior spaces,” she said.
On Tuesday, Dr. Kerry Chant urges NSW residents to wear masks when unable to maintain social distancing, even though it’s not required
NSW chief health officer Dr. Kerry Chant has insisted on wearing masks even if it’s not mandatory when people can’t social distancing.
She said on Tuesday it is only “considerable” for people to wear a mask when entering a store or crowded public space.
Her comments came as health officials braced for a winter wave of Covid-19 with two more contagious sub-strains of the Omicron variant.
“I’m worried about this photo,” she warned. “The virus has changed.
“So now with Omicron, the evidence is clear that we need three or in some cases four doses to provide the best protection against getting very sick.
“We must act now to slow the spread of the virus in the community. We need to create an environment where we can say that wearing a mask is okay.”