Patients with influenza-like illness and other respiratory illness are swarming the hospitals again in some areas of New Zealand, thus making GPs and hospitals extremely busy.

Free vaccination has also been extended, though only a few of them are available, so one should get immunized now. It takes about 15 days for the vaccine to give its full level of protection. The seasonal influenza vaccine, this year also include the pandemic H1N1 virus strain. It has been recommended that pregnant women, young children, obese and medically unfit people should get immunized.

One can protect himself and his family by adopting a lot of basic measures, which includes getting seasonal influenza immunization, so that the whole family gets protection against swine flu.

One should be familiar with the symptoms of influenza like high fever, headache, cough, sore throat, tiredness and body ache.

The other measure that can be taken on an immediate basis is that one can call for medical advice quickly, if there is a doubt of developing influenza-like symptoms. The severity and length of the illness can be minimized by an antiviral medication.

The parents should teach their kids to wash and dry hands frequently. They should advise kids to cover coughs and sneezes and ask them to stay home when they are not feeling well.