Why doctors urgently want combined COVID-19, flu testing clinics for Qld
The state government is under pressure to follow the lead of southern states and roll out combined COVID-19 and flu testing clinics.
Doctors say detecting both viruses as soon as possible will improve treatment options and lessen potential strain on a buckling health system.
Infectious diseases expert Paul Griffin told Sofie Formica “there’s a lot of reasons” dual testing clinics would be beneficial.
“If we could try and improve our testing so that we look for both viruses up front, that would really help us,” he said.
“We have specific therapies for COVID and the flu that are very different but very effective if given early.”
Influenza A is spreading through Queensland at a speed much faster than was initially anticipated.
“We’ve seen the number of cases really take off in the last three-or-so weeks and that’s a lot sooner than we’d normally see,” Dr Griffin continued.
“As of last week, we’d seen more than double the amount of cases we’d normally have by this time of year.”
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