A rapid response team is being mobilised in Sydney's west to prevent major flu outbreaks in aged care facilities.
People over the age of 65 are at higher risk of complications from the influenza virus and the vaccine can be less effective as people age.
Residents in aged care usually have underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable.
"They are more at risk of developing pneumonia, requiring an admission to hospital and even dying from the flu, so we're just trying to protect them the best that we can," Dr Shopna Bag, Public Health Unit Director, Western Sydney told 9News.
A small team of research nurses led by infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy is responding to suspected outbreaks by visiting aged care facilities and using portable technology to diagnose the flu more rapidly.
"To be able to do a test on site and provide a result within 30 minutes," Dr Bag said.
"We've been able to show it's very reliable so all the results we've had on site have been validated in the lab," she said.
The current timeframe for diagnosis is variable across aged care centres, but results can take several days.
Mobile testing involves taking a nasal swab of a resident with symptoms and the machine analyses the genetic material of the virus in the sample.
63 nursing homes in Sydney's west is taking part in the pilot program and the data is being analysed by a Sydney University PhD student.
Holy Family Services in Marayong had nine residents diagnosed on site with influenza A in February this year.
They were able to be treated very quickly and other control measures were put in place.
"That means they get appropriate medication to treat the symptoms and it reduces the spread very, very quickly so people are kept safe," said Alexandra Davis, Holy Family Services CEO.
In 2017, the number of the flu cases across the country were the highest since the 2009 pandemic and people aged over 65 made up more than 91 percent of flu-related deaths.
This year, the number of cases have been higher than the start of previous years and there are concerns the winter months could prove challenging.
"My advice is it's time to get the flu vaccine, we know the flu season is just upon," said Dr Bag.
