Flu cases have doubled in Queensland compared to last year, with the far north experiencing a ninefold increase, driven partly by a highly contagious 'Super-K' strain. Health experts attribute the surge to declining vaccination rates, increased testing, and indoor gatherings during warm weather.
The Torres Strait has seen 90 cases, nearly nine times the average for this time of year, while Mackay recorded 193 cases (5.4 times higher) and Townsville 321 cases (5.2 times higher). Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service public health physician Helen Pedgrift described the outbreaks as 'unexpected' and noted that the region has experienced three or four flu peaks in the past 12 months, deviating from the usual pattern.
James Cook University infectious disease expert Hillary Vanderven said the 'Super-K' strain, a highly mutated variant of Influenza A (H3N2), has been circulating in Australia since late last year. While not necessarily causing more severe illness, it spreads rapidly and reduces vaccine effectiveness due to numerous mutations. Low vaccination rates give the virus more opportunities to mutate, Vanderven added.
Queensland's free influenza vaccine program will begin on March 1. Vanderven noted that misconceptions about summer flu in hot climates can lead to complacency, as people retreat indoors to air-conditioned spaces during extreme heat. She suggested that two doses of flu vaccine per year, as trialled in Singapore and Hong Kong, could benefit vulnerable individuals.
