- pregnant women (particularly in the middle and later months of pregnancy);
- people with chronic respiratory (breathing) conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and people who require preventer medications for asthma;
- people who are very obese;
- Indigenous people of any age;
- Residential Group Homes;
- people with other chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes mellitus, metabolic diseases, chronic kidney or liver disease, haemoglobinopathies, immune system suppression (for example due to cancer treatment, HIV/AIDS or medication) or chronic neurological conditions.
If you are in this group, seek medical care early if you get sick with flu symptoms. Antivirals must be started within 48 hours of you getting sick to work properly. Phone 1800 358 362 (1800 FLU DOC) or your doctor.
People who may be at risk of severe illness from influenza in 2009:
- Smokers
- People who have sleep apnoea
- Women in the first three months of pregnancy
- Children under five.
If you are in this group, monitor your symptoms and seek medical advice if you get worse or are worried about how sick you are.
If you are at risk, take steps to protect yourself:
- Try to stay away from anyone you know who has flu
- Wash your hands often
- Try to keep a large step from others in public
- Know the signs: fever with a cough and/or sore throat
How to slow the spread of flu - 5 steps
Useful links
- Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from the Queensland Government
- Information for Aboriginal people from the New South Wales Government
- FAQs for Aboriginal people from the Victorian Government
- World Health Organisation briefing note about pandemic influenza in pregnant women
More useful links to websites about pandemic influenza can be found on the useful links page of the site.
