Australians and the Flu
"Australia's Aboriginals"
It is no surprise to the Australian people, that the swine flu would target the country's aboriginals. For most Australians, the swine flu has turned out to be a highly infectious, but not so much life-threatening virus.
However, aboriginal people have a much high rate of complications due to the swine flu that white people. Aboriginals make up 2.5% of Australia's population. Officials say that this 2.5% are hospitalized and die from swine flu at five times the national rate.
The aboriginals usually have much higher rates of diseases, which in turn makes them more susceptible to complications from the flu each year.
Australian health officials say they are making great strides to keep the indigenous people healthy, but Aboriginal leaders say it is not enough.