INFLUENZA CAN EASILY SPREAD AT MASS-
GATHERING EVENTS OF ALL KINDS, NOT JUST
SPORTING EVENTS. A FLU VACCINE IS THE BEST
WAY TO PREVENT GETTING THE SEASONAL FLU
AND OTHER STRAINS OF THE VIRUS.
There is some research indicating people have a reduced
incidence of acquiring a respiratory illness at major sporting
events because of the open-air seating and decent in-between
seat spacing. However, while spectating at the venues
themselves may pose a lower risk, the activity associated
with attending mass-gathering events such as taking public
transport to and from venues and using on-site food and
beverage outlets, can in fact increase your risk of contracting
an illness. These places are transmission hot spots as you
will be in close proximity to people for long periods of time
in buses, trains and waiting in venue lines etc. All these
situations can facilitate the transmission of airborne and
droplet infections such as Pertussis and Influenza.
Below is a random snap shot of 9 countries who
participated in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games
that the World Health Organisation (WHO) have estimated
to have 80 percent or less vaccination coverage of Pertussis
(Whooping Cough). Data is from WHO July 15 2017 and
is subject to tracking of the doses and individual country to
fully immunise children.
Nine Commonwealth countries with children not having the
recommended three doses of Pertussis include:
Less than 80 percent
Less than 60 percent
India
South Africa
Kenya
Less than 50 percent
Mozambique
Nigeria.
Cameroon
Less than 70 percent
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
The above gives you an idea of the vast differences in public
health initiatives between countries and the increased risk
these differences can pose in a mass-gathering event situation.
This however does not mean all visitors will be unvaccinated,
it simply highlights there are countries, according to the
WHO, that don’t have as stringent a vaccine program as
Australia or some other Commonwealth countries.
Influenza can easily spread at mass-gathering events of
all kinds, not just sporting events. In 2008 there was an
Influenza outbreak at the World Youth Day in Sydney as well
as a number of H1N1 outbreaks at major music festivals in
Europe. A flu vaccine is the best way to prevent getting the
seasonal flu and other strains of the virus. In addition to the
flu vaccine there are personal actions that can be taken to
reduce the risk of getting and spreading the flu.
30 | Pindara Magazine ISSUE 13 | 2018