New Zealanders urged not to be complacent as 'horror' flu season strikes across the ditch

As Australians face a 'horror' flu season, and 'a fair bit' already here, New Zealanders cannot afford to be complacent, experts say. Less than a month into the official flu season, early signs show we cannot assume it will be another mild year, Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner said. The number of flu-like illnesses reported in the first half of the month remained on par with other years but a higher-than-usual proportion of those cases were being confirmed as influenza rather than other respiratory illnesses, Institute of Environmental Science and Research data showed.