Aussie state smashed by ‘alarming’ surge in influenza cases as numbers surpass Covid-19 hospitalisation rates

One Aussie state has been whacked by a sudden and “alarming” surge in virus cases that are surpassing Covid-19 hospitalisations.

Queensland has been whacked by a sudden and “alarming” surge in influenza cases – the number now surpassing those diagnosed with Covid-19 in hospitals for the first time this year.

Health authorities confirmed letters were being pushed out to schools and vaccine providers across the state urging people to get vaccinated in a bid to combat the rising numbers.

Last week, there were 1521 confirmed cases of flu in school-aged children in Queensland.

There were another 630 cases in preschool-aged children and 644 cases in Queenslanders aged over 65.

Chief health officer Catherine McDougall said there were more patients in the state’s hospitals with influenza than Covid-19 for the first time this year.

The number of persons hospitalised with Covid-19, Influenza or respiratory syncytial virus in Queensland since January 2024. Picture: Supplied / Queensland Health

The sudden surge in influenza cases in Queensland has prompted an urgent push from health authorities to ensure people get vaccinated against the disease. Picture: Supplied

More than 80 per cent of hospital admissions for flu across all age groups were patients who had not been vaccinated, she said.

Dr McDougall said letters urging people to get vaccinated were being pushed out to schools and to vaccine service providers urging people it was not too late to get vaccinated.

The influx in the northern state’s flu cases is in addition to a sudden outbreak of the dangerous legionnaires’ disease in Victoria that has been forecast to increase over the coming days.

Victoria recorded 22 cases of legionnaires’ disease over the past three days, in addition to another six suspected cases.

Most of the cases are in adults aged over 40, with many of them requiring hospitalisation and intensive care for severe pneumonia.

The source of the outbreak has not been determined.

Victoria’s chief health officer Clare Looker said case numbers were expected to “head north” after more cases presented to hospitals since Friday.

Influenza cases now surpass the number of people in Queensland hospitals with Covid-19 for the first time this year, health authorities have confirmed. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

“Legionnaires’ is a nasty type of pneumonia,” Dr Looker told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

“People need to understand if they have visited or live anywhere in metropolitan Melbourne and they develop symptoms of legionnaires’ disease … to seek medical attention.”

The disease is spread through fine droplets of water containing legionella bacteria.

Symptoms can develop up to 10 days after exposure to the bacteria, which is found in potting mix and soils and often multiplies in bagged potting mix, mulch and other products.

Legionnaires’ disease cannot be spread from person-to-person or by drinking contaminated water.

Queensland has not recorded any cases of the disease despite the outbreak in Victoria.

Originally published as Aussie state smashed by ‘alarming’ surge in influenza cases as numbers surpass Covid-19 hospitalisation rates