Regions with highest number of flu cases in NSW

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

EXCLUSIVE: The Hunter New England region of NSW is the epicentre of the state’s influenza outbreak but there are signs that statewide the infection rate may have peaked.

Twice as many people in Hunter New England have reported having the virus compared to other areas with high infection rates.

In the week ending July 9 more than 1005 people had influenza in the Hunter New England health district, NSW Department of Health data shows.

Western Sydney had the second highest number of influenza cases with 551 people recording an infection in the same period.

In South Western Sydney, 500 people had the flu, just ahead of North Sydney with 485 cases and Western NSW where 352 people recorded an infection.

NSW has recorded three times the number of confirmed flu cases of any state so far this year, national disease surveillance figures reveal.

In the year to July 9 more than 105,000 cases were reported.

The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report said there were signs the outbreak was reaching its peak.

There were 4813 people recorded with influenza in the week ending July 9, a decrease of 48.1 per cent since the previous week.

The number of people presenting to emergency departments with ‘influenza-like illness’ who had to be admitted to hospital decreased to 84 in the week ending July 9 compared to 113 admissions in the previous week.

“Notifications of influenza cases decreased this week. The recent trend in reported influenza cases suggests that the influenza season has peaked; however, there could be subsequent peaks given the early start to the 2022 influenza season,” the report said.

High numbers of RSV and other viruses are circulating in addition to the flu and Covid. Pictur: istock

A range of other viruses are also circulating at high rates.

There were 3183 cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) reported in the week ending July 9, a decrease on the 3842 cases the previous week.

There were 2066 cases of rhinovirus (the common cold) reported, 500 cases of para-influenza, 438 cases of human metapeumovirus and 359 cases of adenovirus.

All the above viruses have common cold like symptoms including runny nose, cough and fever.

Nationally there were 187,431 cases of influenza recorded in the year to July 3 and 113 influenza-associated deaths.

Since April, there have been 1323 hospital admissions due to influenza reported and 6.5 per cent were admitted directly to ICU.

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

We’re are nearly in August but it’s not too late to get the flu shot.

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

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 jab even though the illness can have worse outcomes for them than Covid

Sydney University infectious diseases expert Robert Booy 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 than Covid. So there’s really an imperative and importance of promoting vaccination in children under five.”

Originally published as Regions with highest number of flu cases in NSW