Flu season in Queensland to be ‘significant and early’, alarming figures show

Queensland is on a frightening trajectory towards a horror flu season, with the state already recording the worst May in eight years, including the shocking 2019 season that killed 264 people.

Queensland is on a frightening trajectory towards a horror flu season, with the state already recording the worst May in eight years, including the shocking 2019 season that killed 264 people.

The new data was released to doctors at the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) on Tuesday, sparking a renewed call for urgent vaccinations, as the virus is spreading much earlier than expected.

“The latest figures show that in May in Queensland we have 1000 confirmed cases of influenza and a number of combined flu-Covid cases,” Australian Medical Association Queensland president Chris Perry said.

“Last year, there were only 598 cases across Australia. We have not seen 1000 cases in Queensland in May for eight years. This suggests that we will see a significant and early flu season,” Prof Perry said.

Queensland had one of its worst flu seasons in two decades in 2019, with almost 70,000 lab-confirmed cases and 264 deaths.

“Now that we are seeing combined flu and Covid cases, the pressures on our health system will only escalate. Your best protection is to get your flu shot now, ” Prof Perry said.

AMAQ vice president Dr Bav Manoharan said many people may not have kept their influenza vaccines up to date during Covid.

“People haven’t had their flu shots and people haven’t been travelling,” Dr Manoharan said.

“Our borders are open now and flu is coming in from the northern hemisphere. Go and get your flu shot.”

AMAQ Committee of General Practice Chair Dr Maria Boulton said GPs are working overtime to vaccinate as many Queenslanders as possible against the flu.

“GPs and their practice staff are staying open after hours to make sure Queenslanders can get their flu jabs,” Dr Boulton said.

“Influenza is a serious disease and we do not want to see what happened just three years ago with five people dying each week during flu season. Make an appointment to see your family doctor, who has your full medical record and will make sure you get the right vaccination.

“If you are eligible for your fourth Covid shot, you can have it at the same time as your flu jab,” she said.

Originally published as Flu season in Queensland to be ‘significant and early’, alarming figures show