Health Minister Chris Picton releases latest flu figures showing skyrocketing cases are causing a ‘perfect storm’ for GP surgeries and hospitals

There’s been a huge 70 per cent increase in flu cases across SA compared to last year, creating a ‘perfect storm’ for the state’s healthcare system.

Health Minister Chris Picton announced the latest flu figures with cases surging 70 per cent higher than last year. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Flu cases sweeping through South Australia are packing emergency departments with suffering patients and creating “a perfect storm” in GP clinics as numbers surge 70 per cent higher than last year.

New figures released by Health Minister Chris Picton show across the state there have been 10,569 flu cases reported so far this year – 70 per cent more than the 6212 cases at the same time last year.

In the past week alone, SA health authorities had recorded a sharp rise in numbers with 1627 new cases, a 28 per cent increase on the 1268 new cases reported the week before and 918 cases two weeks ago.

Australian Medical Association SA president Peter Subramaniam said doctors were telling the industry group that the SA’s escalating flu case numbers meant GP practice appointment schedules were fully booked days in advance.

This meant doctor surgeries across the state were struggling to accommodate patients at short notice.

“We’re seeing a perfect storm of increased patient presentations and reduced practice capacity due to healthcare workers falling ill,” Associate Professor Subramaniam said.

Mr Picton reported the high number of flu patients was putting intense pressure on medical emergency departments.

Flu notifications from 2020 to 2025.

Friday’s figures showed that 1,042 South Australians had been hospitalised with flu this year compared to 673 at the same time last year, a massive 55 per cent increase.

As presentations increased, Mr Picton urged South Australians to get vaccinated to reduce their own health risk and to help stop the spread.

“Those of particular concern are children under five and older South Australians, especially those in residential care. They are most at risk of flu complications,” he said.

Common complications of flu in children include ear infections, pneumonia and croup.

The latest figures showed that SA had currently reached almost the equal highest number of weekly flu cases of any year in the past five years – the highest number was 1653 in August, 2024.

Despite SA having the highest uptake of the flu vaccine on mainland Australia at 32.1 per cent, Mr Picton said “we still need more people to roll up their sleeves”.

SA Health chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said there were several reasons why flu cases were so high.

Every influenza season was different with some more severe than others with Ms Spurrier blaming aspects of human behaviour, circulating strains and the “closeness of vaccine match” impacting figures.

The AMA said the surge in reported cases reinforced why annual influenza vaccination was critical.

It wanted the state to have co-ordinated action across government, healthcare providers and the community to protect SA’s most vulnerable and to support “our stretched healthcare workforce”.

Flu vaccinations were free for those most likely to end up in hospital including children aged under five years of age, those aged over 65 years, pregnant women, Aboriginal people and those with underlying health conditions.

Originally published as Health Minister Chris Picton releases latest flu figures showing skyrocketing cases are causing a ‘perfect storm’ for GP surgeries and hospitals