Qld flu diagnoses plummet on the back of restrictions brought in to control pandemic coronavirus

As tough restrictions see the number of coronavirus cases drop, flu cases are also dramatically down on last year’s figures.

FLU cases have plummeted in the state on the back of public health restrictions brought in to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Last week, the state recorded just 11 laboratory-confirmed cases of flu, down from 350 during the week beginning March 16.

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But health authorities are still urging people to get a flu shot, concerned about the potential for influenza and COVID-19 epidemics hitting simultaneously during winter.

“To get 11 flu cases in a week in Queensland at this time of year is almost unheard of,” said Griffith University influenza expert Paul Van Buynder.

Griffith University influenza expert Professor Paul Van Buynder. Photo: Stewart Allen

“The social distancing is certainly going to make a difference in the amount of flu we have because people are not spreading respiratory viruses with each other.”

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the state’s response to COVID-19 had resulted in changes to many of the factors that usually influenced the transmission of infectious diseases, including massive reductions in national and international travel, along with quarantine and self-isolation measures.

“All of these factors are likely to change the patterns of flu transmission in addition to the changes associated with social distancing,” Dr Young said.

Professor Van Buynder said many people at highest risk from COVID-19 were also extremely vulnerable if they developed flu – the elderly, people with chronic diseases and children aged under one year old.

“In order to make sure that we don’t have people getting both diseases at the same time … it’s critical that everybody goes out and gets their flu shot as soon as they can get access to it,” he said.

Pregnant women are particularly urged to make sure they get a flu jab to protect both themselves and their baby.

Flu vaccination will have no protective effect against developing the novel coronavirus, but it will help prevent someone developing influenza and COVID-19 at the same time.

With flu shots in high demand, Queenslanders may have to shop around to find a general practice or pharmacy with stock.

Despite laboratory-confirmed flu cases plummeting in recent weeks, Queensland has recorded 5673 influenza infections so far in 2020 – higher than the five-year average of 3883.

That’s off the back of record influenza diagnoses in Queensland last year, topping 68,000.

Flu infections at the same stage last year had reached 8261.