Health authorities predict flu hospitalisation figures will follow Omicron pattern
Health authorities are predicting Queensland’s unfolding flu crisis will have a pattern similar to the Omicron wave, while more than 150 people are currently in hospital with the virus.
QLD News
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Health authorities predict this year’s flu season will follow a similar pattern to that of the Omicron wave as current hospitalisation figures are “holding steady”.
As of May 30, there are now 156 people in hospital with influenza, including 12 in the intensive care unit.
This is up just slightly from last Tuesday when the State Government announced there were 151 flu hospitalisations including 10 in intensive care.
Last week, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said in the next two to three weeks the state could end up with “well over” 400 to 500 admissions to hospital due to the flu.
However, a Queensland Health spokeswoman says the current rate of hospitalisations is holding steady but not yet plateauing throughout the state.
Health authorities have predicted that the flu outbreak could now follow a similar pattern to that of the Omicron wave where there was a delay in the rise of hospitalisations after case numbers peaked.
“We continue to see indications that the 2022 influenza season will be severe,” a Queensland Health spokeswoman said.
“As influenza cases continue to rise across Queensland, it is important for all Queenslanders to take the time to protect themselves and the wider community, and also limit the burden on our hospitals.”
During the Covid-19 Omicron outbreak in Queensland, the number of daily case numbers peaked for the first time at the start of January, with the total number of people in hospital with the virus peaking just over three weeks later.
Similarly, daily case numbers peaked again at the end of March, which was followed by hospitalisation figures peaking four weeks later.
However, infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin said this flu season is “impossible” to predict.
“It’s harder to predict than ever before because it’s being driven by unique factors. It’s being driven by so many new things, including the removal of restrictions for Covid as well as a higher population susceptibility because no one has been exposed in a while, and also low vaccination rates,” he said.
While Dr Griffin said it’s very possible the state could end up with up to 500 hospital admissions at once, aligning the trajectories of flu and Covid wasn’t a safety net.
“I think saying it’s going to follow with Omicron, especially when they’re such different viruses, is not necessarily the case, and I don’t think we can necessarily count on that as much,” he said.
Originally published as Health authorities predict flu hospitalisation figures will follow Omicron pattern
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