Gold Coast flu numbers skyrocket, doctors remind locals to vaccinate

Feeling sniffly? You’re not alone. Gold Coasters have been urged to protect themselves as numbers suffering from this one sickness soar.

GOLD COASTERS have been urged to protect themselves as summer flu numbers hit the highest they have been in the last five years.

Queensland was on track to record a five-year low in influenza cases but cases in November and December were unusually high, Queensland Health’s and Medical Director Communicable Disease Branch, Dr Jonathan Malo said.

Summer flu is on the rise as Gold Coasters are warned to be careful. Picture: iStock

On the Gold Coast alone cases for December made up a quarter of the year’s total influenza, with over 541 confirmed infections.

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Since the winter the number of Coasters coming down with the flu have near doubled.

“We have seen an increase in the number of confirmed cases usually reported for this time of year.”

State-wide there were 1,361 confirmed cases in November 2018, compared to an average of 645 confirmed cases for the same period in the previous five years.

“In December 2018 there were 2028 confirmed cases, compared to an average of 534 confirmed cases for the same period in the previous five years,” he said.

“During 2018 we had a mild flu season — not only did we avoid a repeat of 2017, which was one of the worst years for flu on record, but we are set to report the lowest number of cases since 2013,” Dr Malo said.

“We must remain vigilant during 2019 because as we’ve seen in the past, flu can occur at any time of the year and every flu season can be different.

Queensland Health continues to offer free flu vaccine for children aged six months to less than five years old. Picture: iStock

“It’s also important for pregnant women to get vaccinated against flu at any time of the year to protect themselves and their newborns.”

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Queensland Health continues to offer free flu vaccine for children aged six months to less than five years old, one of the groups most susceptible to flu.

“More than 1.2 million government-funded flu vaccines were distributed across the state last year.”

Influenza notification on the Gold Coast 2018:

January: 160

February: 146

March: 144

April: 98

May: 34

June: 34

July: 66

August: 149

September: 268

October: 253

November: 167

December: 541

Influenza notifications in Queensland:

2018: 15,664

2017: 56,590

2016: 23,284

2015: 28,061

2014: 17,898

2013: 5,509

Source: Queensland Health Data