Flu Qld: More cases in first half of 2025 than same time last year

Queensland has hit an alarming new flu milestone as doctors warn the worst is yet to come. See the sobering figures.

Mater director of infectious diseases Professor Paul Griffin

Flu cases in Queensland in the past six months now outnumber the total recorded over the same period last year – and doctors warn the worst is yet to come.

The state is in the grip of the official start of the flu season that has been made worse by thousands of early seasonal cases combined with low vaccination rates.

Up to June 29 this year, 29,514 cases had been recorded, already outstripping the 24,708 over the first six months of last year.

More than 5300 cases have been recorded in the past fortnight alone.

Mater director of infectious diseases Professor Paul Griffin warned that was likely just the tip of the iceberg in the most significant flu season in years.

“We had a lot of inter seasonal cases and now that we’re in the actual season, we are seeing still a very big number of flu cases … they’re probably only a fraction of what’s truly out there,” he said.

“We are seeing a lot of flu cases in hospital, including some with quite severe disease, and if you add to that, the severe Covid that we’re also seeing at the moment, that’s a very significant burden on the healthcare system.

“The worst is still potentially yet to come.”

AMAQ president Dr Nick Yim

Dr Griffin said it was underappreciated how long it took a patient to recover from the flu and Covid-19 if they did result in admission to hospital.

“That’s why we need people to take steps to reduce the burden now and reduce the chance of them getting really sick by getting vaccinated,” he said.

AMA Queensland president Nick Yim vaccination rates had declined across all age groups in 2024 and 2025, with Queensland now 2.2 per cent below the national average.

Of particular concern were vaccination rates in children and teenagers aged five to 14, which have seen a steady decline since 2020.

Dr Yim said about 94 per cent of people admitted to hospital with influenza this year had not been vaccinated, highlighting just how critical vaccinations were in preventing severe illness.

“Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, and we urge everyone to get vaccinated,” he said.

“Many hospitalisations this year have been among people aged 65 and older, which is why it’s so important our older community members are vaccinated too.

“We need to do everything we can to keep people healthy and out of hospital, and in turn, avoid putting undue pressure on our busy emergency departments.”

Dr Yim said if you have a mild illness like a cold, it was generally safe to get the flu shot, but if you’re uncertain, it was best to have a conversation with a regular GP.

Originally published as Flu Qld: More cases in first half of 2025 than same time last year