Regions where flu is spreading in Queensland

Influenza almost disappeared last year but it made a resurgence after Covid lockdowns ended. See how your area compares.

EXCLUSIVE: The Metro South region of Queensland is suffering the highest number of influenza cases in the state as the infection rate appears to have peaked.

The health service area that takes in Logan, Redlands and Scenic Rim regions, Beaudesert and Beenleigh, recorded 295 cases of the flu in the week ending July 17.

The next highest number of infections was in the Metro North area with 249 infections.

The Gold Coast region recorded 138 influenza cases, the Darling Downs has 125 cases and West Moreton experienced 103 cases.

There have been 35,180 cases of influenza recorded in the state so far this year.

The infection rate is falling with 1229 cases recorded in the week ending July 17, down from 1792 the week before.

Hospitalisation due to influenza in Queensland halved in the week ending July 17 with 103 admissions — more than half of the 220 experienced in the week ending July 10.

So far this year there have been 3441 people hospitalised with influenza in Queensland.

Nationally, data shows influenza peaked in May and June.

Australia recorded 187,431 cases of influenza in the year to July 3 and there have been more than 113 influenza-associated deaths.

To date, more than eight in 10 (82.8 per cent) of the laboratory-confirmed cases in Australia have been influenza A.

It is not too late to get your flu vaccine from your GP or pharmacists.

Aussies have been urged to voluntarily mask up and work from home if sick to avoid the flu, common cold, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Covid, which is on the rise around the country.

Fewer than one in three children aged under five have had a flu jab. Picture: Getty Images

Only four in 10 Australians have had their flu jab this year and rates are even lower in children aged under five.

Fewer than one in three children aged under five have had their flu injection even though the illness can have worse outcomes for them than Covid.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy, a member of the Immunisation Coalition, said it was not too late to get a flu vaccination.

“Even if you’ve had the flu, you should still get the jab,” he said.

“One dose of flu doesn’t mean you can’t get a second dose because there are four different varieties that the vaccine could protect you against.”

In children, both types of H1N1 and H3N2 are problematic at the moment, Professor Booy said.

“Vaccines have been free for children aged under five for a long time. You can’t get a Covid vaccine under five but you can get a flu jab, and it’s more serious in children under five that Covid. So there’s really an imperative and importance of promoting vaccination in children under five.”