11 April 2023
Richard
[FYI request #22106 email]
Tēnā koe Richard
Your request for Official information, reference: HNZ00013696
Thank you for your email on 15 March 2023, asking for the following which has been
considered under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act). You have specifically
requested:
“Could I have the total number of influenza cases each month, for the last 10 years
(not including any covid19 cases)”
Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) does not receive national level data about diagnoses
made by primary care providers, for example GPs. As influenza is usually diagnosed in a
primary care setting, we do not hold data on all influenza diagnoses made in New Zealand.
Therefore, your request is refused under section 18(g) of the Act, as the information
requested is not held by Te Whatu Ora.
We can provide you with data on publicly funded hospital influenza discharges by year and
month of admission. Please note that this is not data on all influenza cases in New Zealand,
as many people do not require hospital treatment for influenza. People hospitalised multiple
times (e.g., transfers, readmissions, multiple incidents) are counted each time.
Please see attached as
Appendix 1.
The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) provides reports on influenza
monitoring online at the following link:
https://www.esr.cri.nz/our-research/nga-kete/infectious-disease-intelligence/influenza-and-
respiratory-surveil ance/
Their online dashboard contains information about influenza-like-il ness monitoring in the
community, and their annual influenza reports.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[Health New Zealand request email].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, Te Whatu Ora may
proactively release a copy of this response on our website. Al requester data, including your
name and contact details, wil be removed prior to release. The released response wil be
made available on our website.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Wendy Lawn
Manager (Acting)
Office of the Chief Data and Digital