Cases of summer flu outbreaks have doubled compared to same time last year, according to NSW’s latest influenza surveillance report. 

There were 2244 confirmed flu cases in NSW in the four weeks to March 3, almost double  the 1144 notifications in February last year. 
“Unusually high levels of influenza activity are

 being seen in most states and territories, with the national reporting rate more than three times the average for this time of year,” NSW Health’s Communicable Diseases Branch Director, Dr Vicky Sheppeard said. 

She also said that several factors were contributing to the unusually high level of unseasonal flu. 

“Some of the increase follows a late influenza season across tropical parts of Australia, which affected northern NSW, and now it’s likely that travellers returning from the northern hemisphere are bringing flu home with them,” Dr Sheppeard said.

NSW Health has specifically issued a warning for people with symptoms of flu to stay away from aged care facilities as eight outbreaks have already been reported at aged care facilities in February. 

“Residents of aged care facilities will have little immunity left from last year’s flu vaccine, so it’s important to not expose them to the risk of influenza,” Dr Sheppeard said.

Free seasonal vaccines for high risk people in 2019 will be available across Australia from mid-April.