The Gold Coast Bulletin

Warning of a horror flu season

- JANELLE MILES

QUEENSLAND flu cases have soared to more than half last year’s figures, with experts predicting thousands of deaths nationwide in a horror season.

Griffith University immunisati­on expert Paul Van Buynder said weekly numbers would be “much, much higher” once the flu season peaks.

“I’m worried that the predominan­t strain at the moment is influenza A and that usually means a worse season and more people in hospital,” Professor Van Buynder said.

Federal figures show the state has already had 8691 confirmed cases this year, compared with 15,692 for the whole of 2018.

Already this year, 689 people have been admitted to Queensland public hospitals with the flu.

National Centre for Immunisati­on Research Professori­al Fellow Robert Booy said experts were estimating about 4000 deaths from the flu this year nationwide.

He urged parents to take advantage of the free flu jabs for children aged between six months and under five years.

Free flu vaccinatio­ns are also available for pregnant women, people with medical conditions that increase the risk of influenza complicati­ons and people aged 65 and older.

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