Warning to older Aussies as ‘triple-threat’ flu, Covid, RSV wave hits NSW

One group of Australians has been given a dire warning before winter sets in, amid surging detections of flu, Covid and RSV.

A “triple threat” of surging flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detections across NSW has prompted health authorities to call on people over the age 65 to get their free influenza vaccine.

The NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report released on Thursday revealed a 27 per cent increase in influenza notifications, and a 23 per cent in Covid-19 notifications week-on-week.

However, NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said despite the rapidly increasing flu transmissions, with cases expected to “quickly increase” in the next few weeks, vaccine rates were not where they needed to be.

“Less than half of people aged 65 and over in NSW have received their influenza vaccine this year and we really need to see that number go up, especially as people in this age group are among those most at risk of severe illness,” Dr Chant said.

“We expect the number of influenza cases to quickly increase in the weeks ahead so now is the time to get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so.”

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said people over the age of 65 should get their flu vaccine, with ‘less than half’ of that age group currently jabbed. Picture NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park repeated calls for vulnerable Aussies to get vaccinated.

“What we are seeing is a triple threat of flu, Covid and RSV cases circulating at high rates among the community,” he said.

“I want to reiterate to the community to stay up to date with your vaccinations, in particular the over 65s – it really is the simplest and yet most effective way to protect yourselves and the community.”

In order to reduce pressure on hospital emergency rooms, Mr Park urged people with non-life threatening conditions to contact NSW HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse.

Mr Park also called on people to stay at home if unwell, or “mask up” if they need to go out.

Children aged between six months to five years, pregnant women, Aboriginal people from six months of age, and people with chronic health conditions are also advised to the free shot.

Vulnerable people including older Australians and young children were urged to get the flu shot. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

The report also found rates of Covid-19 notifications were “increasing across all ages and most Local Health Districts (LHDs)”.

“In the last week, there continued to be high COVID-19 notification rates in those aged 90 and over,” it said.

“LHDs with smaller populations, such as Far West LHD, experience greater variability in notification rates.”

Incidents of RSV were also high in children between two and four, however reports of positive cases were stabilising in children under two years of age.

Rates of notifications increased by 4 per cent week-on-week.

A separate spotlight was also placed on pertussis (whooping cough) and pneumonia.

The highest rates of whooping cough were identified in children aged five to 14 years of age, with cases appearing to increase.

Notification rates between 2022 to 2024 showed a rapid increase, with one per 100,000 people recording the virus in 2022, to 10.8 cases per 100,000 cases om 2-23.

Year to date in 2024, that figure has already shot to 85.4 notifications per 100,000 people.

Pneumonia, an potentially deadly infection of the lungs, is also of concern to health authorities, leading to “unseasonably high” emergency room presentations in children and young adults, particularly people aged five to 16.

NSW Health said data suggested infection from the bacterium mycoplasma pneumoniae was likely the cause of the virus, with NSW die for an epidemic.

“M. pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia in school aged children and epidemics occur every 3-5 years,” the report found.

“The last epidemic in NSW was before the COVID-19 pandemic.”