Influenza cases are rising fast and yet to peak, with experts saying it’s not too late to get vaccinated.
Winter is over but cases of influenza are surging in Australia, with health experts warning that the risk of infection is now at its highest as the late flu season nears its peak.
In the fortnight ending 6 September, the Australian Respiratory Surveillance report recorded 31,650 told influenza cases, up 27.2% from the previous period.
In Victoria, influenza notifications have increased by about 400% over the past seven weeks, with influenza A accounting for most cases. Emergency department presentations for acute respiratory infections have risen by 25% in Victoria over the past six weeks, primarily driven by children aged 5 to 17 years.
McElnay said cases were expected to remain high over the coming weeks, including through the school holidays.
Queensland’s chief health officer, Dr Marianne Gale, said this “more unusual flu season” may be due to last year’s record cases.
Prof Patrick Redding, the director of the WHO Collaborating Centre at the Doherty Institute, said that late-season surges could be influenced by shifting weather patterns, dry air, increased indoor socialising and “patchy” influenza vaccine uptake affecting community immunity.
While A is now plateauing, a secondary wave of influenza A is now driving case increases in Victoria and New South Wales.
With national uptake of the flu vaccine sitting at just 30.2%, Redding also urged unvaccinated Australians to book an appointment.