Queensland has been hit hard by the flu season this year, with an outbreak that’s up to five times the level of previous years. Those newest figures show that the state has already tallied 2,679 earnest flu diagnoses between January and the end of the month of May this year. That’s up a jaw-dropping 36 percent from this time last year. This increase is more than double the five-year average for flu activity. Health officials and medical professionals have every right to be shocked by this increase.
Professor Paul Griffin, an expert in infectious diseases, noted that the current flu season has shown remarkable levels of inter-seasonal infections. “This year has been really remarkable for the very high inter-seasonal levels,” he stated. More than 2,000 people have been hospitalized from influenza-related disease. Nearly half of those hospitalized are 65 years of age or older. Alarmingly, about one-third of all reported flu cases are in people younger than 17 years old. Even more alarming, one in every ten cases impacts children five and younger.
Rising Hospitalizations and Infection Rates
Flu surges higher during last July 2024. Flu diagnostic tests, administered at clinics and by in-home health care practitioners, tripled in the week ending February 1, resulting in the worst flu season in years. Health officials are concerned about the rising numbers of influenza B, particularly among children. Yet the numbers have exploded, going up four times from just a few years ago. The increase in infections has been blamed on a lapse in fundamental flu precautions among the public.
Dr. Nick Yim talked about the need to vaccinate, encouraging more Queenslanders to get vaccinated for the flu. “The good news is we can prevent a winter spike by increasing vaccination rates,” he remarked. This year, the state has already issued the free flu vaccine to over one million individuals. Currently, health officials are working to encourage millions more people to get vaccinated.
“Every case of flu avoided or minimized means reduced pressure on our over-burdened emergency departments.” – Dr. Nick Yim
As if all this wasn’t enough, the strain on this flu season’s public health response is being increased by public behavior. Professor Griffin explained that people are less likely to stay at home even if they’re sick. In addition, he “saw a regression in hand hygiene, mask wearing and ventilation practices.” “People are less likely to stay home when unwell, and we’ve seen a decline in hand hygiene, mask use, and ventilation,” he added.
Impact on Families and Communities
The damaging impacts of this extremely bad flu season have cut widely and deeply into families across Queensland. Parents are taking to social media to voice their concerns about the growing threat of infection to their children by fast moving variant strains. Meah Whelan shared her experience with her baby struggling to breathe due to the flu: “He was struggling to breathe at times, and it’s really frightening as a parent to see your baby like that.”
She expressed tremendous relief that her partner was able to maintain good health through this very stressful period. This provided him the freedom to raise their children from home. “I was very lucky and grateful that he didn’t catch it, as he was able to monitor us and care for the boys at home,” Whelan noted.
Hospitalizations continue to increase. Health officials want to be clear—vaccination is the most important step you can take to combat the ongoing flu epidemic. Dr. Yim once again emphasized that the most at-risk populations are older Queenslanders and young children. “This is critical for older Queenslanders and the very young, but it’s important to remember even those in general good health can be seriously affected by influenza,” he urged.
Looking Ahead: The Need for Preventative Measures
As Queensland navigates through this severe flu season, health professionals are advising residents to remain vigilant and prioritize their health. This increase in reported cases underscores the importance of following preventive health recommendations, including vaccination. It’s very important to get vaccinated and use it as your first line of protection against flu.
We may be in for a nasty flu season,” cautions Dr. Yim. Studies from the Northern Hemisphere give credence to this worry, indicating that we may experience increasing incidence in the months ahead. “We know from reports from the Northern Hemisphere that we are at risk of a very bad flu season,” he cautioned.
