Soaring flu cases prompt warning from nation’s peak health bodies

Australians have been urged to get a flu vaccination as cases surge across the country, almost doubling in one state.

The National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System reported there has been more than 46,300 cases of influenza across Australia in 2025 to the end of March, representing an increase of about 50 per cent from this time last year.

The report showed 67 people in Queensland had been hospitalised with influenza and another 900 were diagnosed in just one week.

More than 10,000 flu cases have been reported in Victoria, which is almost double the cases compared to last year, with numbers continuing to rise.

Falling influenza immunisation rates due to vaccine fatigue and misinformation, combined with the risk of a horror flu season like the one experienced in the Northern Hemisphere, could result in more lives lost in Australia from flu and other respiratory diseases this year.

Australian Medical Association president Danielle McMullen said there had been a fall in the number of Australians receiving their flu vaccine in 2024 compared with the previous year, and the decline can’t afford to continue.

“I can’t be too blunt about this: Thousands of people die each year from respiratory disease including flu, Covid-19 and RSV,” Dr McMullen said.

“Older people, immunocompromised people, babies, young children, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to some of these respiratory viruses.

“People should get their flu vaccine each year, as the formulation is updated annually to match circulating strains, and the protection from a flu vaccine only lasts a season.”

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia senior pharmacist Peter Guthrey said the peak in cases recently seen in the Northern Hemisphere should stand as a warning for Australians.

“Lots of people in the US and UK have been sick with flu and this has continued late into their flu season. Influenza can spread around the world rapidly through international travel, so Australians need to be ready for the potential of a big flu season here,” he said.

“Flu vaccination is recommended annually for everyone aged six months and older and it’s the most important measure to prevent flu and its complications. Flu cases are already on the rise so it’s important that people talk to their pharmacist or doctor early about influenza vaccination.”

Among the predictions for a heightened flu season this year, pharmaceutical manufacturer CSL Seqirus announced earlier this month that it has released over seven million flu vaccine doses into the Australian market.

“Flu is unpredictable but the data shows that the virus is already circulating and notifications are increasing. We don’t know when cases will peak, which is why we've worked hard to ensure our vaccines are available to help protect people,” CSL Seqirus medical director for vaccines and biosecurity Dr Jules Bayliss said.

“This year, we manufactured an extra 100,000 flu vaccines to ensure there were enough doses for every person who wants to be vaccinated.” 

It is highly recommended that people aged over 65, children aged six months to five years, pregnant women and people with a pre-existing medical condition get vaccinated.