Australia is facing an early and more severe flu season than in the past few years, due to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts have warned.
Data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) has shown that there has been an unusual number of confirmed cases of influenza for this time of year.
There is a notable increase of around 5000 cases, comparing this time last year.
Note: Confirmed number of cases from this time last year
Cases of influenza began trending upward last year.
There was a notable dip in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with experts blaming an increase in international travel.
Note: Graph shows the number of confirmed influenza cases in Australia up to 2024.
In 2024, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the levels of Australians travelling internationally had returned to pre-COVID levels.
Note: Graph shows number of Australians travelling overseas
Typically, flu season starts in April of each year and tends to reach a peak in July or August. However, with many Australians returning from overseas holidays after visiting countries in cooler climates, it can be difficult to contain the spread of the flu.
Health professionals have urged Australians to get vaccinated for the flu.
Ramsay Health registered pharmacist, Alina Yasin said that more people were seeking flu vaccinations than in the past few years.
“In the past few years, after COVID, people have noticed they’re getting more sick because in those few years where we had a lot of social distancing and sanitising, people weren’t getting sick,” Mrs Yasin said.
“Now, suddenly, they’ve noticed that they’re getting sick again. So that’s their reason for getting vaccinated at this time.”
There have also been many cases of more severe flu symptoms, as a result of prior COVID-19 infections.
“I don’t really hear much about COVID anymore, but I have heard from people that their flu is more severe. Now, their symptoms are more severe, so they are more keen to receive a flu vaccination,” Ms Yasin said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged vulnerable members of the community, such as older people, and those who are immunocompromised, or people suffering from chronic conditions to get vaccinated.
The WHO has also encouraged everyone to practice safe hygiene, such as washing hands and sneezing in your elbow.
