Flu Season in the Shed: What You Need to Know (and How to Dodge the Worst of It)

Ah, flu season. That time of year where half the crew’s coughing like old Massey Fergusons and the other half are popping Panadol and Codral like lollies, trying to pretend they’re sweet as.

Let’s not beat around the bale—when the flu hits a shearing team or a farming family, it doesn’t muck around. You can go from full steam to flat out on the couch in a day. So, here’s a practical, no-bullshit look at what the flu actually is, what it does, and how to survive it (or better yet, avoid the bloody thing altogether).

🧬 What Is the Flu, Really?

Influenza (or “the flu”) isn’t just a rough cold or a sniffle you can brush off. It’s a highly contagious virus that hits your respiratory system — nose, throat, lungs — and can take even the fittest person out for a week or more. And for some people, it’s way worse than that.

It spreads via droplets when people cough, sneeze, talk, breathe heavily… You name it. Stick a group of people in a van or a woolshed together, and it’ll whip through it like a nor’wester through a dodgy shed door.

🤔 Cold vs Flu: Real-Life Example

Let’s paint a couple of quick yarns:

• Terry, the Farmer: Woke up a bit stuffy, runny nose, feels a bit average. Still checks the ewes, does the yards, and knocks off early with a hot lemon. Right as rain in two days.

  ✅ Probably a cold.

• Tracey, the Woolhandler: Started the day fine, but by smoko she’s got chills, her back’s aching, and she’s gone from 0 to 39°C in an hour. She sleeps for 14 hours straight and still feels like a truck hit her.

  ❌ That’s the flu.

Feature	Cold	Flu
Onset	Slow build-up	Sudden and heavy
Fever	Rare	Common and high
Aches & Pains	Mild	Severe
Fatigue	Mild	Extreme
Duration	2–4 days	5–10+ days
Knocked on your arse?	Nah	Absolutely

🧟‍♂️ When the Flu Goes Bad: Real-World Horror Stories

While most people recover at home, the flu can go from annoying to life-threatening — especially if you're already vulnerable.

Here are a few sobering facts:

• Worldwide, the flu kills between 290,000 and 650,000 people each year.

• NZ sees 400–500 flu-related deaths annually, mostly elderly or people with underlying health issues.

• It can cause pneumonia, organ failure, brain swelling, or even heart attacks in extreme cases.

Historically, the flu has had some shockers:

• 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic – Killed over 50 million people worldwide. Hit NZ hard, with thousands dead in just a few months.

• 2009 Swine Flu (H1N1) – A more recent reminder. It mostly affected young, healthy people — a rare twist.

• Seasonal Flu Epidemics – Every year, hospitals get overloaded during peak flu season, especially in rural areas where health services are already stretched thin.

  
  

😷 What About COVID?

Let’s be honest — it’s still here. It’s not in the headlines as much, but COVID-19 hasn’t buggered off completely. It’s joined the gang of respiratory illnesses floating around, especially in winter.

• Similar symptoms to flu, but often includes loss of taste/smell, and longer fatigue.

• Spreads the same way — droplets, close contact, shared spaces.

• It can knock you sideways, especially if it’s your first go or you’ve got other health stuff going on.

And yep — you can catch both COVID and the flu at the same time. It's called a “co-infection” and it’s about as fun as trying to shear a poll dorset lamb with blunt gear.

🚐 Why the Flu Hits Shearing Crews Hard

We’re not just being dramatic when we say the flu can rip through a shearing team quicker than a shearer hitting the shower on stayout. Here’s why it spreads like wildfire in this industry:

🏚️ 1. Close Quarters, All Day Long

Sheds, vans, quarters – all tight spaces, all day, every day. One sneeze in the van and it’s shared air till the end of the week.

🛌 2. Shared Accommodation & Gear

From bunkrooms and smoko mugs to drink bottles and towels – nothing’s just yours in a shearing team.

🍽️ 3. Group Meals & Smoko

Smoko tables = ground zero. One sick bloke, one shared pack of bikkies, game over.

😓 4. Hard Work, Low Rest

Physically smashing it day after day weakens your body. Flu finds its way in when you’re already running on fumes.

🥶 5. Cold Starts & Wet Gear

Hot/cold/hot/cold cycles? That’s a recipe for a runny nose that becomes something worse.

🤐 6. Tough Culture = Sick People Showing Up

We love a good work ethic — but showing up crook doesn’t help anyone when you take the whole team down with you.

💉 The Flu Jab & Natural Back-Up: What Works and Why Bother?

🦠 What’s in the Flu Jab?

• Inactivated strains of flu = safe practice for your immune system

• Changes yearly to match circulating bugs

• Can’t give you the flu (myth busted)

• Reduces severity, length, and risk of hospitalisation

  
  

👨‍🌾 Who Should Seriously Consider It?

• Anyone working in close quarters

• Older members of our industry

• Anyone who can’t afford time off

🌿 Natural Alternatives: Do They Work?

They won’t stop the flu, but they’re bloody handy support. Here’s the breakdown:

Supplement	What it Does	Found In
Vitamin C	Shortens sickness, boosts immune cells	Kiwifruit, oranges, capsicum, tablets
Zinc	Helps fight off viruses	Meat, seeds, dairy
Vitamin D	Regulates immune response	Sunshine, supplements
Echinacea	Reduces cold/flu severity if taken early	Drops, tabs
Elderberry	May cut flu length	Syrups, lozenges
Garlic	Antiviral + anti-inflammatory	Raw, roasted, capsules
Probiotics	Gut health = strong immune base	Yoghurt, kombucha
Ginger	Anti-inflammatory, relieves nausea	Tea, meals

You don’t need all of them — a simple stack of Vit C, Zinc, garlic, and some good tucker works wonders.

🛠️ Tips for Avoiding the Flu (or at Least Sharing It Around Less)

• Wash your bloody hands – and not just in water. Use soap, antibacterial is better.

• Don’t share drink bottles or durries – keep your germs to yourself.

• Cough into your elbow, not all over your fleece.

• Wipe down shared gear – van handles, door latches, benches and tables.

• Get decent rest – your immune system can’t run on durries and V alone.

• Eat proper tucker – keep the pies, but add something green.

• Stay warm – especially after shearing. Dry clothes matter.

• Speak up if you're crook – better to miss a day or two than a whole week or more.

  
  

🤧 Already Got It? Here's How to Ride It Out

• Rest – no medals for dragging your coughing carcass to the board.

• Hydrate – water, electrolytes.

• Cold & flu tablets – especially pseudoephedrine ones (ask the chemist about these first).

• Paracetamol + ibuprofen – take the edge off.

• Honey & lemon – Nana knew what she was on about.

• Steam inhalation or menthol rubs – opens the chest.

• Cough lozenges – because constantly barking is annoying for everyone.

  
  

📊 A Few Fast Flu Facts

• Over 1 million Kiwis catch the flu yearly

• 400–500 deaths per year in NZ

• You’re contagious 1–2 days before symptoms

• Healthy people recover in 5–7 days, but the cough can linger

• The Flu isn't “just a cold” — it hits harder and lasts longer

  
  

🧠 Mental Check: It Ain’t Just Physical

Being sick, tired, and behind on work can mess with your head. Don’t sit in silence.

• Talk to your family, your boss or a mate.

• If you are worried, go and see the doc!

• Use sick days if needed and if you are entitled to them — that’s what they’re for

• Rest isn’t weakness — it’s strategy

• Call/text 1737 for free support, anytime

  
  

🧣 Final Words From the Shed

Flu season’s a bastard. But a bit of prep, some solid kai, and a little common sense go a long way. Whether you’re the one dragging the comb or cooking the tucker, staying healthy keeps the whole team running smoother.

So:✔️ Get the jab if you can✔️ Top up on the good stuff✔️ Don’t spread the lurgey✔️ And look after yourself like you’d look after your best handpiece

Read it. Share it. Print it out and stick it on the fridge. Let’s get through the Pre-Lamb Lurgey with the whole crew standing.