Flu

Flu season 2024:
– So far this year, there have been 30,457 notifications of laboratory confirmed influenza reported to the NNDSS in the year to 3 April: ACT 420; NSW 12,382; NT 271; QLD 8,305; SA 1,747; TAS 219; VIC 5,367; WA 1,746 (ref 1)
– compared to previous years, there has been a high number of lab-confirmed influenza cases reported in January, February and March 2024. (ref 1)
– Latest statistics from quarter 1 of 2024 show an increase by 29% in laboratory-confirmed cases of Influenza in Australia, compared to the same period in 2023. (ref 2)
– as of 18 March 2024, national influenza statistics suggest we could be facing our second consecutive early influenza season. The Immunisation Coalition urges all Australians that now is the best time to get your influenza vaccination in preparation for the upcoming influenza season.(ref 2)

Note: cumulative notfications can be accessed live at: https://nindss.health.gov.au/pbi-dashboard/. As of 9/04/2024, there were 33,313 cases of influenza notified. the dashboard also provides age-specific numbers. Of these 33K cases, 9,165 (27.5%) were in children aged under 15. So far, children 0-9 are the age groups with the highest number of notifications. (ref 3)

According to the Australian Asthma Handbook:
– Viral infections are the most common trigger for asthma flare-ups, including serious acute asthma requiring hospital admission
– influenza is spread by multiple routes, including airborne transmission of small and large droplets generated by talking and coughing, and transfer by fingers from contaminated items to the nose or eyes.

Immunisation recommendations from the Australian Asthma Handbook
– influenza vaccination reduces the risk of influenza, however the level of protection it confers against asthma flare-ups is uncertain (ref 1)
– patients with severe asthma (defined as having frequent hospitalisations and requiring multiple asthma medicines) should keep their influenza vaccination up to date. Other adults with asthma should follow national immunisation guidelines and be informed of the potential benefits of flu vaccination. (ref 2)
– the flu vaccine is free of charge for people with severe asthma (defined as requiring frequent medical consultations OR the use of multiple medications) (ref 2)

Immunisation recommendations from the National Immunisation Handbook: (updated 15 March 2024).
– Yearly influenza vaccination is recommended for all people aged 6 months and over (children and adults)
– influenza vaccination is funded on the NIP (free of charge) for:
* children 6 months to under 5 years
* people aged 65 years and over
* First nations people (aged 6 months and over)
* pregnant women
* people with certain medical conditions aged 6 months and over: this includes people with severe asthma (defined as requiring frequent medical consultations or the use of multiple medicines)

Flu season 2023:
– The 2023 influenza season was characterised by an early peak and longer duration, but overall lower clinical severity and societal impact, than many pre-COVID-19 pandemic influenza seasons
– vaccination coverage was low overall in 2023, especially in children, and severe
presentations to sentinel hospitals in children were reported throughout the season
– there were 252,296 notifications of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, 376 influenza associated deaths (median age 76 years); and 3,696 sentinel hospital admissions
– Children aged 05–09 years had the highest influenza notification rates followed by children aged 0–04 years. The notification rate was lowest among adults aged 70–74 years.
– Influenza vaccine coverage rates were lower in 2023 (at 32% overall) than in 2022 (39%), and lower overall in First Nations peoples (24%).
– vaccine coverage in children was low (21% in under 5 yo)
– 72% of hospitalisations reported by sentinel hospitals were in children under 16 (although sentinel admissions may overestimate hospital admissions nationwide for children under 16)