Children under the age of 10 are at most risk of contracting the flu this year, according to the latest health department influenza report.
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So far in 2022, there have been 147,155 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza, with 989 of these hospitalised. A total of 54 Australians have so far died as a result of the flu.
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The numbers are tracking toward a five-year record, following last year's very low transmission.
With widespread lockdowns continuing last year, community flu transmission chains were nearly broken. Only 598 cases were recorded in 2021.
"Each season the impact of influenza differs," said Professor Roberty Booy, infectious diseases paediatrician at the University of Sydney.
"We expect that with global travel resuming, influenza strains will also travel and infection rates will rise."
In just the past 14 days, the Australian health department has recorded 55,101 cases of influenza.
The vast majority of new cases have been among children aged under 10, and in the 15 to 19 year old age brackets.
It comes as health experts continue to encourage a widespread uptake in flu vaccination.
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"[..] We can expect to see influenza notifications increase, especially if vaccination rates remain low," said Dr Kirsty Short, virologist at University of Queensland.
So far, nearly 10 million vaccinations have been administered across Australia. It represents only 37 per cent of the population and is fewer than expected, especially since the introduction of free or subsidised vaccination programs.
"We cannot let vaccine fatigue get the better of us. We must act to limit the burden on our already stretched healthcare systems," said Dr Iris Depaz, from Sanofi Australia, the company that compiles the periodic Influenza Report Card.
"The advice of experts is clear - influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone aged over six months."
Meanwhile, in the past 24 hours, Australia has registered another 31,766 cases of COVID-19, with warnings that the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are now increasing across NSW.
In the week ending June 18, the BA.4 and BA.5 variants made up 31 per cent of tested cases, up from 23 per cent the previous reporting period.
Emma Horn
Supervising producer of the national video team. Former features and weekender writer for The Daily Advertiser. Now based in the NSW Hunter region. Small, quiet, and a student of the Paddington Bear School Of Staring. Usually dressed in something colourful, always snacking on something homemade, often watching birds. Friend to most mothers and all dogs. Got stories? Get in touch. emma.horn@austcommunitymedia.com.au
