Spring is the ‘runs season’ with sickness hitting Queenslanders

Queenslanders are being hit by a whirlwind of viruses, from gastro to a Covid-19 strain bringing new symptoms.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard

Queenslanders are being hit by a whirlwind of viruses, with spring proving to be a melting pot of sickness.

Doctors warn that spring is known as the “runs season”, when gastro problems soar, and these cases are mixing with the new Covid strain that is presenting a varied range of Covid-19 symptoms not normally associated with the Covid-19 virus.

Royal College of General Practitioners Queensland chair Bruce Willett said: “It seems this spring is virus season.

“Diarrhoea and upset stomachs are notoriously high at this time of the year.

“The gastro can be viral.

“Add that to the new wave of Covid with symptoms showing up that we don’t normally associate with Covid, like severe headaches.”

Queensland Health data shows a spike in the numbers of cases of campylobacter, which causes diarrhoea.

Last year there were 7889 cases, while 2023 has already had 8223.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard has warned Queenslanders of a new Covid-19 wave with numbers rising.

Dr Gerrard urged Queenslanders to get their booster shots.

Covid-19, influenza, gastrointestinal diseases and whooping cough are circling the state.

Last year the state recorded 42,884 cases of influenza, while 2023 has already seen 68,986.

“People are out living their lives again after the pandemic, with few people keeping the protocols of distance and hygiene alive,” Dr Willett said.

“They are in crowds and enjoying gatherings and travel.

“We have also seen very changeable weather over the last few weeks.”

The GP said there has been a concerning rise in whooping cough cases.

Queensland Health has warned that whooping cough is now expected to return to pre-pandemic levels and pregnant women and their families must get vaccinated to protect newborns from the killer bacteria.

“Whooping cough is a highly infectious illness and particularly serious in young infants,” a Queensland Health spokesman said.

“Vaccination during pregnancy is essential to protect infants during the first six months of life, but only 61 per cent of pregnant mothers in Queensland are vaccinated against whooping cough.”

There were 371 cases of whooping cough between January 1 and October 31, with children 14 years and younger accounting for about half of all cases.

The number has not yet returned to the 2019 levels.

Protection against whooping cough is included in the routine vaccinations given to children at two months, four months, and six months of age, with boosters at 18 months and four years of age, and in Year 7 at school.

Originally published as Spring is the ‘runs season’ with sickness hitting Queenslanders