Help Tackle Influenza with FluTracking 

During the recent coronavirus pandemic, many of us learned for the first time about the important but often overlooked work that epidemiologists do to help keep our communities safe from infectious disease. By analysing infection rates and other health data, these professionals helped Australian health authorities to develop the effective policies that gave us some of the lowest rates of COVID-19 related death and disability in the world. 

But while many of us no longer spend our days watching the news for the latest R number or tracking infection rates and vaccine coverage, our dedicated health professionals have not stopped doing all they can to keep us safe. This year, a severe flu season in the northern hemisphere has Australian authorities worried that we may face similar challenges here. 

What if you could help these health professionals to track infection rates and stop the spread? Well now you can! 

FluTracking is an online health surveillance system designed to help track influenza and COVID-19 symptoms in Australia and New Zealand. By signing up to the FluTracking website, you can help provide health authorities with the information they need to monitor the spread of respiratory viruses in the community. After signing up, you will receive a weekly survey asking you about any recent flu-like symptoms, test results, or vaccinations. The survey only takes 30 seconds to complete. 

FluTracking started in Australia in 2006 with just 400 participants who completed short weekly surveys reporting on their experience of flu-like symptoms. Today the number of FluTracking participants has risen to an average of 61,000 per week. With so many participants already contributing, why does FluTracking need your help? Our local public health authorities tell us that the more people who join the system, the more accurate it becomes – particularly in terms of tracking flu in our local area. Authorities already track respiratory infections using a range of methods – including positive test results, hospital admissions, and staff sick leave – but we know that influenza remains underreported because very few people who experience the disease ever have a laboratory test to confirm it. FluTracking gives authorities another data point to build a better understanding of what is happening in the community. 

With so many of us living together in cities, we share the air we breathe with more and more people. With that comes the risk of respiratory infection. Contributing to citizen science efforts like FluTracking, ensuring you get your yearly flu jab, staying home if you are sick, and wearing a mask if you need to leave home while experiencing symptoms, are all great ways to keep yourself and your friends and neighbours safe this flu season. 

NSW Health has some great resources to help you understand influenza and find your nearest vaccination centre on their website here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/Influenza/Pages/default.aspx 

Join FluTracking today!