Victorian LGA’s worst hit by the flu this year

Melbourne’s southeast has been hardest hit by the flu as infections continue to spike in Victoria. See the other hotspots across the state.

Melbourne’s southeast has been hardest hit by the flu, as infections continue to spike across the state.

The City of Casey has recorded the highest amount of influenza infections in Victoria so far this year at 1297 cases.

Suburbs in Casey include Berwick, Cranbourne, Hampton Park, Doveton, Endeavour Hills, Clyde, Hallam, Lynbrook and Narre Warren.

This was followed by 917 cases in Greater Geelong, 661 in Wyndham, 601 in Melton and 558 on the Mornington Peninsula.

According to the Department of Health, there has been a total of 18,165 recorded flu cases in Victoria this year as of June 2.

This is compared to 110 infections in 2021 and 4790 infections in 2020.

Flu cases have ballooned after two years of Covid lockdowns and reduced international travel led to limited immunity to the common winter virus.

Prior to the pandemic, 69,599 cases were recorded in 2019, 11,622 in 2018 and 48,315 in 2017.

It comes as the state government launched a free flu vaccination initiative for Victorians on Wednesday.

Health Minister Martin Foley said winter was shaping up to be a “really nasty flu season”.

“This will be the first time in two years that we will face a real flu season,” Mr Foley said.

“We need all Victorians to roll up their sleeves and help protect their loved ones and our health system by getting vaccinated.

“Victorians really took up the call to arms when it came to Covid-19 vaccinations, and we know they can do it again — so we’re removing as many barriers as possible to help boost vaccine coverage.”

More than 1,974,765 Victorians were jabbed between March 1 and May 30 this year.

The plan follows New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, who are all offering free jabs across their states.

Local government area influenza cases as of June 2, 2022

Alpine — 32

Ararat — 7

Ballarat — 309

Banyule — 363

Bass Coast — 67

Baw Baw — 143

Bayside — 384

Benalla — 28

Boroondara — 516

Brimbank — 393

Buloke — 9

Campaspe — 23

Cardinia — 304

Casey — 1297

Central Goldfields — 9

Colac-Otway — 40

Corangamite — 133

Darebin — 186

East Gippsland — 41

Frankston – 515

Gannawarra — 10

Glen Eira — 558

Glenelg — 12

Golden Plains — 63

Greater Bendigo — 264

Greater Dandenong — 231

Greater Geelong — 917

Greater Shepparton — 77

Hepburn — 29

Hindmarsh — 10

Hobsons Bay — 260

Horsham — 64

Hume — 339

Indigo — 27

Kingston — 455

Knox — 246

Latrobe — 90

Loddon — 7

Macedon Ranges — 130

Manningham — 146

Mansfield — 16

Maribyrnong — 211

Maroondah — 182

Melbourne — 215

Melton — 601

Mildura — 34

Mitchell — 130

Moira — 17

Monash — 441

Moonee Valley — 214

Moorabool — 98

Moreland — 267

Mornington Peninsula — 558

Mount Alexander — 21

Moyne — 53

Murrindindi — 12

Nillumbik — 148

Northern Grampians — 16

Port Phillip — 264

Pyrenees — 10

Queenscliffe — 18

South Gippsland — 52

Southern Grampians — 37

Stonnington — 397

Strathbogie — 4

Surf Coast — 98

Swan Hill — 8

Towong — 4

Wangaratta — 80

Warrnambool — 114

Wellington — 133

West Wimmera — 4

Whitehorse — 208

Whittlesea — 399

Wodonga — 128

Wyndham — 661

Yarra — 144

Yarra Ranges — 263

Yarriambiack — 6

Unknown — 3117