With winter approaching, the country faces the challenge of the quickly spreading influenza subtype K, which is currently present at abnormally high.
The health specialists warn of the necessity to start getting vaccinated ahead of the expected peak period of the season.
Also referred to as Super K, the influenza subtype is a subclade of the H3N2 influenza A strain whose rapid spread made scientists give it a unique name.
The virus subtype is actually not new however, it has changed a lot since last season, experiencing mutations in the haemagglutinin protein that allows it to attach to human cells.
Therefore, the vaccines and illnesses caused by the former subtypes do not provide sufficient protection against this type of the influenza virus, although they can make symptoms less severe.
At present, Australia reports 22,000 cases and an increase in the mortality rate by a factor of two in January 2026, with the death toll exceeding 60 in the mentioned month.
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Dr. Nic Woods, Bupa’s Chief Medical Officer said that the high number of flu cases and low vaccination rates were very worrying.
Dr. Woods said, “This flu season will be very dangerous and possibly deadly for high risk groups, like the elderly and children because there is a lot of flu activity and not many people getting vaccinated.”
Annual vaccination remains one of the best methods currently in existence for protecting people, especially those who are most at risk.
While it has an alarmist name, health experts warn against overhyping its dangers, pointing out that there is little evidence to suggest that subclade K is any more dangerous than other forms of H3N2 currently circulating.
The real danger is not from the virus itself but rather the combination of the ease by which it spreads and how much it differs from the current vaccine, resulting in far more cases of influenza than usual.
Overall, H3N2 seasons are associated with higher mortality rates, especially among older patients.
Dr. Daniel Layton, an immunologist at CSIRO said that data from England showed that the current flu vaccine was about 72 to 75% effective at keeping people under 18 from going to the emergency room and about 30% effective in adults.
The National Immunisation Program offers free flu shots to babies aged six months to five years, adults over 65, pregnant women, people with long-term health problems and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
There is now a needle free intranasal option for kids ages 2 to 5.
Health experts say that getting vaccinated in early April is the best way to stay safe during the coldest months of winter.
The message from doctors is clear, Super K is not a pandemic virus.
However, in a country where the flu already kills more people each year than car accidents, its ability to spread quickly and get around some immune defenses makes complacency the real danger.
