Flu cases and deaths dive on Gold Coast in 2020 amid coronavirus pandemic measures

Influenza usually kills a surprising number of Gold Coast residents each year – but it’s been a very different story during the coronavirus crisis.

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FLU cases and deaths have plummeted on the Gold Coast this year during the COVID-19 pandemic which forced social distancing and better hygiene.

So far this year, Gold Coast Health has recorded 729 influenza cases as part of notifiable conditions reporting. It was almost 10 times higher at 7070 cases at the same time in 2019 – marking an 89.6 per cent drop in 2020.

This year’s figures also mark a 40.3 per cent drop compared to the 1222 cases recorded during the same time in 2018.

Fewer flu cases and deaths have been recorded on the Gold Coast this year. File image.

In total, there was 7301 flu cases recorded on the Gold Coast in 2019 and 2095 in 2018.

Queensland Health also revealed the number of flu deaths nosedived from 18 last year to four in 2020 – a 77.7 per cent reduction.

“The number of influenza cases on the Gold Coast this year are reflective of statewide and

national influenza trends for 2020,” a Gold Coast Health spokesperson said.

“Good hand and respiratory hygiene are highly effective measures for preventing the

spread of communicable diseases like influenza.

Influenza killed 18 people on the Gold Coast last year and has so far taken the lives of four people in 2020.

“Physical distancing and hand and respiratory hygiene have been integral to the COVID-19

response and we need Gold Coasters to keep up their excellent efforts to ensure we

maintain our healthy position into the future and protect our most vulnerable.”

The health service reminded Coast residents the flu can be especially serious for babies, young children and people aged over 65 and urged the community to vaccinate.

A Queensland Health spokesperson said: “We have experienced a significant decrease in both the prevalence of influenza in the wider community, and instances of death associated with the virus, throughout 2020.”

A woman wears a face mask in a long queue outside the Centrelink office in Southport on the Gold Coast earlier this year. It’s likely social distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures have influenced the drop in flu cases and deaths. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“This is likely due to restrictions and health recommendations put in place to control the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing, hand hygiene and masks,” they said.

“Despite the decrease, it is still critical all members of the community stay up to date with their influenza vaccinations.

“Whilst the influenza vaccine will not prevent COVID-19 transmission, it can reduce the severity and spread of influenza, which may make a person more susceptible to other respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.”

Queensland has recorded 5918 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu in 2020, compared with 36,874 for the same period in 2019.

Cases of rotavirus, mumps and measles, all viruses, and whooping cough are also significantly down on the five-year average.

Queensland Health has urged the community to vaccinate against the flu. File image. Picture: iStock

University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay saidphysical distancing and limited international travel reduced the number of infectious diseases.

“There aren’t many silver linings to this pandemic but the lives saved and illness prevented is one of them,” Associate Professor Mackay said.

“I’m sure vaccination played some role in reducing serious flu cases as it does every year, but there was something new that occurred prior to the incredibly rare obliteration of the 2020 flu season – physical distancing measures to prevent COVID-19.

“When you stop one respiratory virus from spreading – SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus) – it turns out you stop most of them and other viruses as well.”