Health authorities in Western Australia's Kimberley region say influenza is "back with a vengeance" in the region after successive years of very low case numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of Friday the region had reported 572 cases since the start of the year, more than double the Midwest which recorded just 213 cases.
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service (KAMS) medical director Dr Lorraine Anderson said about 10 per cent of cases in the region had resulted in hospitalisation.
"Flu is back with us after two years after pretty much not having it, it's back with a vengeance," she said.
Dr Anderson said it was important Kimberley residents got tested for both COVID-19 and influenza if they were experiencing symptoms in order to protect vulnerable people in the community.
"If your RAT test is negative you should still be in touch with your clinic because if it's negative and you've got symptoms you need to have a swab for both COVID-19 and influenza," she said.
'Hit for six'
Peter O'Connor lives in Derby, about two hours north of Broome in WA's West Kimberley.
He was hospitalised with influenza last week after experiencing respiratory symptoms such as a chesty cough and difficulties breathing, despite testing negative to COVID-19.
"It was definitely the sickest I've ever been, I'd had the flu before but nothing like this, it's really bad," he said.
Mr O'Connor said a number of family members had also fallen ill after contracting the virus in recent weeks.
"Being an Indigenous person, a lot of the communities, and my elders, are vulnerable to that because they're not used to these kinds of sicknesses and flus," he said.
"Now the cold season is kicking in it's the time to take extra care. Some people go get the vaccine, [so] go get the flu shot."
Dr Anderson said a "reasonable number" of people had received the influenza vaccination in 2022 after many had been "blasé" about getting the vaccination the year prior.
"Make sure you get up-to-date with your COVID vaccine," she said.
"The second thing is [stick to] public health measures, so social distancing, hand sanitising, and covering coughs and sneezes."
WA Country Health Service Kimberley public health physician Dr Pippa May said seasonal influenza was a "common and highly contagious virus" which could cause serious illness.
"Sometimes the seriousness of influenza is downplayed as just being the flu, but particularly with our most vulnerable, influenza is a serious and potentially life-threatening virus," Dr May said.
The state government announced late last month it would be extending its free flu jab program until the end of July.
