Influenza is back with a vengeance in south-east Queensland with hundreds of students falling ill and general practitioners predicting epidemic levels for the first time in years.
The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service recorded 493 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza between January 1 and May 29 — the highest figure in three years.
There have been more than 12,000 laboratory-confirmed cases across the state over the same period, the highest since 2019 when cases in May peaked at 12,675.
Sunshine Coast Medical Association president Roger Faint said case numbers were likely to be much higher because most people were managing the illness at home.
"We've had very little exposure for two or three years to influenza, so because of reduced immunity, this influenza virus is going to make people sicker than usual."
He said he expected the virus to reach epidemic levels in the coming months, which would impact hospital and ambulance services.
"It is certainly very obvious at the hospital level that influenza is starting to increase attendances and then cause blockages and delays with ambulances."
Schools bear the brunt of virus
The ABC has been told schools in the region are some of the worst affected with hundreds of students falling ill.
It understands a school in Buderim has had 300 students away in the past few weeks, a quarter of its cohort.
Teachers are also coming down with the illness.
"I think it's a pretty common story to say half the grade …... is away from a particular year at school," Dr Faint said.
"But people are planning to do the right thing and that is staying at home, waiting to get better."
Respiratory illness levels are "moderate and sharply increasing, particularly in children aged 17 and under", according to this year's FluTracking data.
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance data suggests about 5,100 people are hospitalised and 100 people are killed by influenza every year in Australia, but the figures are widely believed to under-represent the true burden of the disease.
Dr Faint said symptoms were similar to COVID-19, with people likely to experience headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
He said symptoms could last between three to eight days.
"Of course COVID is still around," Dr Faint said.
Dr Faint said people who were unwell should rest, drink plenty of fluid and avoid going out.
He encouraged people to seek medical assistance for more serious symptoms such as shortness of breath or severe lethargy and dehydration.
Flu vaccination rates fall short
Pharmacy Guild of Australia national president Trent Twomey said vaccination was the best prevention.
"Last year influenza numbers were down, largely because of lockdowns and isolation," he said.
"We are already seeing a resurgence of influenza infections.
Dr Faint said influenza vaccinations were well short of their target because there had been so much focus on COVID-19 vaccinations in recent months.
"We're looking at 15 to 20 per cent of the population thus far, so we need to get those numbers up probably more like 80 per cent," he said.
"This year we've certainly got to get the younger people vaccinated as well."
He said raising vaccination rates in teenagers and children would help prevent an increased load on the hospital system.
"It certainly doesn't prevent you getting a cough and cold or runny nose, but it'll help you stay out of hospital," Dr Faint said.
