More patients hospitalised with flu than covid in Queensland

Acting chief health officer Dr Catherine McDougall told media the state has seen the highest number of flu cases since 2019, with numbers expected to rise well into August.

---

More patients are hospitalised with influenza than covid in Queensland for the first time this year, with the highest number of cases recorded statewide since 2019. 

Addressing a press conference convened this morning, Queensland’s chief medical officer and acting chief health officer Dr Catherine McDougall warned that hospitalisations had not yet reached their peak, with flu cases expected to continue rising over the next weeks. 

A total of 42,626 flu cases have so far been reported in Queensland in 2024, with 5674 patients diagnosed in the last week and 257 admitted to hospital as of 29 July. 

“One in four people who are testing for flu are positive, this is a sign that there is a lot of virus in the community,” Dr McDougall said. 

“The numbers this year show that this is the worst flu season we’ve had since 2019 … 14% of all of the cases that we’ve had so far this year, happened last week. 

“It’s very likely that this is going to continue to spread, [and] we’re looking at a peak towards the end of August. 

“Case numbers per head of population are [also] highest in children. Last week, there were almost as many under fives diagnosed with the flu as they were over 65s. 

“This is not just a disease affecting our elderly population, it’s affecting the whole community.   

According to Dr McDougall, low rates of flu vaccination, particularly in vulnerable cohorts like children under five years old, were especially concerning given the recent surge in hospitalisations, with more than 80% of hospital admissions for flu across all age groups among unvaccinated individuals. 

“The best way to keep yourself out of hospital is to get vaccinated,” she said. 

“Our overall vaccination rates this year are less than last year, and interestingly they’ve been lower in all states around Australia. 

“Only 20% of our under fives are currently vaccinated, and only 13% of our school-aged children are vaccinated, [so] there’s certainly a lot more work that we can do in this space. 

“I’m really encouraging mums and dads to take their families and get vaccinated over the next few days. 

“It’s not too late – the peak is still many weeks away.” 

Work was currently underway in Queensland Health to contact all schools, sporting and recreation groups and vaccine providers across the state to give an update on the current situation, Dr McDougall said, as well as to highlight the importance of promoting public health messaging around vaccination and staying at home when symptomatic. 

“At the moment, we’re contacting all schools around the state, as well as our vaccine providers, sporting and rec groups, just to advise of where we’re sitting at the moment and trying to encourage this message to be sent out across many different areas,” she said. 

“The message for mums and dads related to schools is if you’re sick or if your child is sick, they should stay home, and everyone should be vaccinated.” 

Nationwide, more than 246,000 flu cases have been recorded since the start of this year, with over 97,000 cases reported so far for the July-September quarter. 

NSW recording the highest number of cases at 130,987 this year, with 50,579 recorded in the July-September quarter, followed by Victoria with a total of 44,920, Queensland and South Australia (11,991).