An intermediate school student she treated had influenza A for nine days, she said.
Healthcare staff and their children were also affected, swelling staff workload.
There had “probably been a four- or fivefold increase” in over-the-counter acute scripts, for the likes of antibiotics, compared to last month, Holmes said.
“If someone’s got a flu, they can’t treat a virus with an antibiotic, but people can get complications, so you can end up with a chest infection, for instance.
“I’d say it’s in direct correlation to all the respiratory illnesses that you’re seeing affect the hospitals and the EDs.”
Data sourced by Government-owned PHF Science showed that, in the week ending August 23, calls to Healthline were at their highest for three years.
Most of them came from the Central region (Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay, MidCentral, Wairarapa and wider Wellington).
“It’s a good thing that we have the Healthline, because these people with respiratory illnesses shouldn’t be going to EDs and they shouldn’t be going to the doctor without first checking,” Holmes said.
“The whole system is under a lot of pressure. Everyone is doing their best.”
Gonville Health nurse and triage co-ordinator Tracey Linton said triage calls had “really amped up” over the past two weeks.
“We’re getting lots and lots of children with viral infections.
“In the last week, it’s just constant, because I do three days on the phone, so it’s nearly every phone call.”
Most parents were doing “the right thing” and calling the clinic, rather than going straight to ED, Linton said.
July and August were typically their busiest months, but things had “really hit us” this August, she said.
“I think what’s happened is Influenza A has changed things a little bit this year. Every year there’s something, like the last few years it’s been Covid.”
Linton encouraged concerned adults to use Healthify, a self-care app for New Zealand-relevant health and medicine information.
Uptake in four-in-one respiratory illness swabs
Linton said clinic staff knew about the four-in-one rapid antigen test (RAT) and “it would be so great if our clinic had them” to save time during appointments.
“Because we get a lot of people wanting to come in for swabs, especially for strep throat.
“Our appointments are getting chewed up.”
Holmes said her pharmacy was selling out of the tests.
They look and function like Covid-19 tests, using a single nasal swab, but can also detect influenza A or B, or RSV.
Pharmacies in Whanganui have noticed an uptake in 4-in-1 flu-Covid-RSV rapid antigen tests as communities nationwide face a significant surge in winter illnesses. Photo / Noam Mānuka Lazarus
“We had to get a special shipment in of the RAT tests. We’ve sold out of three different types, and we’re down to one.
“We’re desperately trying to get more in because people are being responsible, in terms of wearing masks, doing tests to see what they’ve got.”
A staff member at Platt’s Pharmacy in Bulls, who asked not to be named, said the pharmacy first ordered the tests from a wholesaler about a year ago, and was now selling “a lot”.
Central City Pharmacy owner Stacey Simpson also noticed an increase in sales in the past two weeks.
“But earlier we were still selling them more so than previous years.”
Pharmacy 145 on Victoria had none in stock and was waiting for a shipment to arrive.
Flu was more prevalent than in previous years, Simpson said.
“We are seeing more people come in to purchase cold and flu medications.”
Simpson encouraged people to get vaccinated.
Health NZ Te Whatu Ora executive national clinical director Dr Richard Sullivan said people with non-urgent needs should go to pharmacies, Healthline and online general practices (GPs).
People with winter illness who are concerned about their symptoms can get advice from Healthline on 0800 611 116, Practice Plus on 0800 7722 7587 or WAM on 0800 111 211.
People can call the Whanganui Stop Smoking Service on 0800 200 249 for support from qualified staff with experience of quitting smoking.
People in rural communities can contact Ka Ora Telecare for online triage on 0800 252 672.
Noam Mānuka Lazarus (Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara) is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle.