Flu season: Toddler dies from influenza A at Gladstone Hospital

A two-year-old boy has died from influenza A, becoming the first young child in Queensland to die from the virus this season. It comes just a day after it was revealed there are more people with flu in intensive care than people with Covid-19.

A two-year-old boy has reportedly died from influenza A at Gladstone Hospital in what is the first death of a young child from the virus in Queensland this season.

Four young children have so far died nationally in what is expected to be a particularly serious flu season.

It is unclear whether the young boy was vaccinated or not.

Gladstone MP, Glenn Butcher confirmed he was aware of the little boy’s death.

“(It’s) always tragic to see the death of such a young baby and my thoughts and prayers are with the family during this time,” Mr Butcher said.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath is expected to provide an update following the two-year-old’s death at a press conference in Townsville on Friday morning.

Gladstone Hospital. Picture Rodney Stevens

It comes a day after authorities confirmed there are more people in intensive care units with the flu than there are with Covid-19 across the state.

Queenslanders have been warned to expect a “significantly bad” flu season and urged them to get vaccinated before the end of the month.

The Queensland Government in May announced that flu vaccines would be free until June 30.

“I understand that communities and people have vaccine fatigue … but what we’re seeing now is these symptoms are very similar to Covid,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said when she confirmed the move on May 23.

“It is serious and we don’t want to see people ending up in our hospitals when you can take a preventive step and get the vaccine.”

The free vaccines will be available for all Queenslanders aged six months and older.