NT flu cases hit a new record as hospitalisations climb

Almost twice as many people are in hospital with the flu than with Covid. See the latest flu stats as cases continue to surge.

INFLUENZA cases in the NT have hit a record-high, with cases doubling in less than two weeks.

There have been more than 2000 cases already recorded this year.

According to the latest NT Health data, 2162 cases of influenza have been reported so far this year, with 1194 of those since May 24.

There have been 140 patients admitted to hospital and 481 presentations to the emergency department so far.

Twenty people are currently in hospital with influenza.

Meanwhile, 12 people are in hospital with Covid across the NT.

Flu vaccines will not be free for more than half of the Territory’s population, despite other jurisdictions offering complimentary access to all residents.

Chief Minister and Health Minister Natasha Fyles said a large proportion of Territorians were already eligible for a free vaccine and at this time it would not be expanded.

“Approximately 120,000 Territorians, a large proportion of the Northern Territory population, are eligible for a free flu vaccine under one of these categories. In addition, many employers also provide free flu vaccines.

“To ensure those at highest risk are prioritised, NT Health is not currently planning to expand access to free flu vaccinations,” she said.

Recent data has shown 41,000 NT residents have already had the flu vaccine this year.

Centre for Disease Control public health doctor Belinda Greenwood-Smith said it was earlier than normal to be seeing this number of people coming down with the flu.

“We’re seeing an early flu season this year,” she said.

“Normally at this time of year there’d be 300 or so.”

It comes after two years of low flu infections, as the pandemic forced people indoors and taking a serious interest in health and hygiene.

She said if the trend continued, the Territory would hit a new record in the number of people infected.

“A full year you’d get around 1500. In 2019 we had 1800 and that was a big year,” she said.

So far, 1135 cases have been reported in the Top End region, 549 cases in Central Australia, 169 in the Barkly region, 82 in the Big Rivers region, 134 in East Arnhem and 93 are from interstate.

“We are seeing, certainly in Central Australia with almost half of the cases being hospitalised

and that is an indication that they are more severe,” Dr Greenwood-Smith said.

She said it was because of the pandemic and people taking their health and hygiene more seriously that we were now seeing a surge in serious cases.

“There is not much background immunity. People haven’t had that natural immune boost from circulating flu.”

Flu vaccination rates are also lower comparatively.

“It’s probably a mixture of vaccine fatigue and complacency after they saw Covid wasn’t as bad as first thought,” Dr Greenwood-Smith said.

However, she said it was important to stay on top vaccinations, including Covid vaccines, as the flu season continued.

“For some people it can cause quite serious illness — the vaccine may not stop you getting the flu but it will stop you getting severe and hospitalisation,” Dr Greenwood-Smith said.

“If people’s immunity drops off because their vaccines worn out, we might see people getting sicker with even the Omicron variant.”

Originally published as NT flu cases hit a new record as hospitalisations climb