Flu-related deaths in Qld hit 83 as 2019 season continues to climb towards being worst on record

Queensland’s “flunami” continues to worsen with deaths recorded in the Far North already this year – and a teen who spent time in ICU with the virus has spoken of the “intensely scary” experience.

QUEENSLAND’S horror flu season has claimed 83 lives as the killer illness sweeping the state marches towards being the worst on record.

More than 34,000 cases of flu have been diagnosed in the past seven months – more than four times the average at the same stage of the season.

The most recent statistics – for the week ending last Sunday – were the worst for influenza so far this year in Queensland, with 3560 laboratory-confirmed cases recorded leading into the notorious Ekka flu period.

This year’s Queensland flu death toll is already almost double the 43 recorded for the whole of 2018.

Frighteningly, experts say the data is likely to be a gross under-reporting of the actual figures.

To be included in the death data, influenza must be recorded on a person’s death certificate and the virus must have been confirmed in a laboratory.

While about three-quarters of the state’s confirmed flu-associated deaths in 2019 have been in people aged 70 and older, four of those who have died were under 50.

More than 1800 people have been admitted to Queensland public hospitals as a result of the flu in 2019, including 172 who required intensive care.

That is about double the average year-to-date flu hospitalisation rate from 2014-18.

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles said that in the past fortnight, almost one in five people admitted to the state’s hospitals with the flu was aged from 10 to 29.

He used the data to encourage teenagers to think about getting vaccinated, given the Palaszczuk Government’s recent regulatory changes allowing teenagers aged 16 and older to get a flu shot at a pharmacy without parental consent.

“My message to teenagers is: I want you to make flu vaccination a priority, just like learning to drive or preparing for exams,” Mr Miles said. “Even if you’re fit and healthy, flu does not discriminate and can have major health impacts on young people.

“It’s a good reminder for those who are fit and healthy to still get vaccinated and give yourself the best chance to avoid the flu.”

Griffith University immunisation expert Paul Van Buynder backed the minister’s call, saying it was not too late for people to get a flu jab.

“We’ve still got lots of flu activity happening,” he said.

“We still want people to go out and get vaccinated if they haven’t done it yet.

“The vaccination takes about 10 days to work. But in 10 days, we’re still going to be seeing a lot of flu.”

Queensland’s worst flu season on record was in 2017, when 56,592 people tested positive. Last year was a mild season, with 15,696 laboratory-confirmed cases recorded.