Queensland has chalked up its heaviest influenza year in more than a decade, with health authorities warning the virus is still circulating well after the winter peak.
Health data to 14 December shows 95,520 laboratory confirmed flu cases in 2025, about 21% higher than the same point last year.
The department reported 289 flu related deaths over the same period and said 82% of confirmed cases were in people who were not vaccinated.
Spike has been matched by a strange late year tail, with case numbers again lifting early in December rather than fading away with warmer weather.
There were 1,690 cases in the week ending after 1,973 the previous week.
Summer surge adds pressure
Executive Director of Queensland Health’s Communicable Diseases Branch, Dr Heidi Carroll said in a statement, “While flu case numbers and hospitalization remain well below the winter peak the recent summertime increase in cases is unusual.”
The demand for hospitals remains a concern throughout the year.
Under surveillance reporting, there have been a total of 9,386 influenza cases admitted to public hospitals. Compared to 6,974 reported up to the corresponding point in 2024.
What the causes of the high incidence of 2025 were precisely is less certain.
Among the various reasons cited have been the effects of changes in virus strain, declining resistance following the disruption of several successive seasons, increased travel and lower vaccine response.
According to infectious diseases specialist Andrew Redmond, quoted to ABC News, there was suspicion of a fresh strain of the virus causing the outbreak which made the vaccine less effective against the virus.
This comes as families go back into the school season and workplaces come back to full speed.
Queensland Health encouraging Queenslanders to get vaccinated when eligible, stay home when sick and practice the essentials of handwashing and covering their coughs and sneezes.
