Australia’s flu cases are up nearly 30% (and it's not Winter) Why health experts are concerned

Australia’s flu cases are up nearly 30% (and it's not Winter) Why health experts are concerned

On Friday of last week I woke up with a sore throat and within a few hours I had taken a turn for the worse. By the evening I had severe chills, sweating, severe body aches and back pain and a lot of coughing and I didn't know what was going on.

I also I don’t usually get knocked around by illness. I eat well, move my body, prioritise sleep, manage stress — all the things we talk about every day at Zing Wellbeing and I am rarely ever sick.

It was confusing as it wasn't flu season, I had had a flu shot over the winter and I had had covid when I was in the UK in Winter so what could this be.

But after testing the next day I found out it was Influenza A, and after talking to the Doctor and doing some research I have learnt that even though it is Summer in Australia and not flu season we are having a severe spike in influenza.

And it has been a real reminder that even very healthy people are not immune to what’s circulating right now.

What is happening right now in Australia with the flu?

Australia is currently experiencing an unusually early and severe summer spike in influenza, driven by a mutated strain of influenza A (H3N2), known as “subclade K”.

Health authorities across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia have all reported much higher flu infection rates than expected for this time of year, following what was already a record-breaking flu season.

To put that into perspective:

  • More than 36,000 flu cases were recorded heading into November

  • Over 16,000 cases were recorded in just the first part of December

  • That is highly unusual for early summer

In NSW alone, during the week ending December 7, there were 3,961 influenza cases, compared to 432 cases during the same week last year — an 816% increase.

Nationally, Australia has already recorded 478,000 flu cases, almost 30% higher than 2024’s previous record of 365,000 cases.

And most concerning of all:

  • 1,385 Australians have died from influenza as of October, a 32% increase compared to the total number of flu deaths across all of 2024.

This is not being described lightly. Health officials say the rise in admissions is being driven specifically by this H3N2 subclade K mutation, which is also surging globally.

What’s Happening Overseas Matters Too

Australia isn’t alone.

The Northern Hemisphere experienced a particularly severe flu season in 2024, and experts are warning this one may be worse.

In the UK, hospitals are preparing for up to 8,000 flu-related hospitalisations, with some emergency departments reverting to COVID-era measures, including mask requirements for staff.

All of this points to one thing: this strain spreads fast, infects widely, and is making a lot of people very sick.

Why Kids Can Carry It Mildly - But Adults Get Really Sick

I strongly suspect I picked this up from one of my kids.

A few weeks ago, one of them complained briefly of a sore throat - nothing major, no fever, no obvious illness. It never really turned into anything.

That’s the tricky part with influenza.

Children and teenagers can carry and transmit the virus with very mild or minimal symptoms, yet pass it on to adults who then become extremely unwell.

In fact, one of the most affected age groups right now is 10–19-year-olds

So even if kids seem “mostly fine”, they can still be powerful carriers - especially in schools, sport, and social settings.

What To Do If You Have the Flu

If you suspect you have influenza — fever, chills, body aches, headache, sore throat, cough, extreme fatigue — please:

  • Stay home and rest

  • Do not go to work, school, events or social gatherings

  • Avoid visiting elderly or vulnerable people

  • Hydrate, sleep, and support recovery

  • Speak to your GP, especially if symptoms are severe or you’re high risk

  • Wear a mask if you absolutely must leave home

As doctors have said very clearly:

“If you have got the flu, make sure you don’t go spreading it to other people.”

How You Can Reduce Your Risk

There is no single magic fix — but layers of protection matter:

  • Get the flu vaccine — it is still not too late

  • Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces, especially if someone in your household is unwell

  • Wash hands regularly

  • Ventilate your home

  • Rest if you feel run down — pushing through lowers immunity

  • Take symptoms seriously, even if they seem mild at first

Vaccination remains the strongest defence, yet uptake has been declining since the pandemic.

Currently:

  • 60.5% of Australians over 65 are vaccinated.

Why getting this flu does not mean you have a weak immune system

A strong immune system does not mean:

  • You never get sick

  • You are “immune” to viruses

  • You won’t catch highly contagious, fast-spreading infections

A strong immune system means:

  • You can mount a response

  • You recover

  • You reduce risk of complications

  • You don’t stay unwell for weeks or end up hospitalised

This particular influenza A (H3N2 subclade K) strain is:

  • Highly contagious

  • Infecting huge numbers of people

  • Circulating widely through children and communities

  • Overwhelming healthy adults as well as vulnerable ones

When exposure is high enough, even the healthiest bodies can get infected.

Please look after yourselves, your families, and your wider community — especially as we head into Christmas, travel, gatherings and busy social calendars.

Rest is not weakness. Prevention is not overreacting.
And staying home when you’re sick is one of the kindest things you can do.

I am making a quick recovery now after resting for 3 days and I hope you stay healthy over this period.

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