Queensland Health is encouraging people to stay at home if sick and practice good hygiene over the festive period amid an unseasonal increase in flu cases in recent weeks.
Their data shows that there has been more than 95,000 flu cases have been recorded this year, which is 21 per cent higher than the same time last year.
In the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service there has been roughly 3,000 cases this year.
Queensland Health’s Communicable Diseases Branch Executive Director Dr Heidi Carroll said flu cases and hospitalisations remained above expected rates for this time of year.
“While flu case numbers and hospitalisations remain well below the winter peak, the recent summertime increase in cases is unusual,” Dr Carroll said.
“This increase may be driven by more people travelling and attending social gatherings. Additionally, the northern hemisphere is currently seeing high case numbers of the Influenza A strain, and this is contributing to global spread, including within Australia.”
Hospital admissions are currently 32 per cent higher than at the same time last year with nearly 70 public hospital beds on average taken up by flu patients each day in Queensland. This time last year, an average of 11 beds were occupied by flu patients.
Dr Carroll said the increase in flu cases was placing additional pressure on hospitals and health care services.
“The reality is that the flu can cause serious illness resulting in hospitalisation, and we’re currently seeing a much higher number of hospitalisations than we normally would at this time of year,” she said.
“The unseasonal increase in flu cases shows the importance of continued vigilance against respiratory illness, even outside the traditional flu season.
“It’s important to prioritise good hygiene such as regularly washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your arm and staying home when you are sick to stop the spread of respiratory illnesses.
“If you’re sick over the coming weeks, it’s important to protect your loved ones by staying home and away from others, particularly vulnerable family and friends, such as young children and older people, people who are pregnant or breast feeding and those with medical conditions that place them at higher risk of complications from respiratory illnesses.”
Queenslanders who have not received the influenza vaccine this year are encouraged to get immunised to protect themselves, their loved ones and the broader community.
Influenza vaccine is available through primary care providers including general practice, community pharmacies, community immunisation clinics, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services.
