Australia’s flu season arrives late as cases remain below last year’s levels

Influenza activity has risen in several Australian jurisdictions later than usual, but national case numbers remain substantially below those recorded at the same time in 2025. The Australian Centre for Disease Control says activity has slowed in recent weeks, suggesting the national peak may be approaching.

Australia is experiencing a delayed influenza season, with several jurisdictions reporting increases in cases in recent weeks. However, laboratory-confirmed infections remain substantially lower than at the same point in 2025, according to data tracked by the Australian Centre for Disease Control.

The centre said national flu activity had increased but slowed recently, indicating that the seasonal peak may be close. It said a peak in early September would be consistent with flu patterns before the COVID-19 pandemic, after recent flu seasons had generally been concentrated in winter.

The lower national total contrasts with last year, when more than 1,700 Australians died from influenza, the highest number recorded this century. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Michael Wright said the vaccine used this year covered a strain that contributed to a second flu peak in 2025, which he attributed in part to the lower numbers this year.

Queensland has recorded a particularly late increase. Queensland Health data showed about 3,435 people were diagnosed with influenza in the week cited in the report, prompting experts to urge vaccination before the state’s free program ends on September 30. The source said Queensland had reported unusually low numbers earlier in the year.

Other states have also seen recent increases, although their totals remain below last year’s levels. Victoria’s notifications rose by about 400 per cent over seven weeks, with influenza A accounting for most cases, while emergency departments recorded a 25 per cent rise in acute respiratory infections, mainly among children. New South Wales reported a decline in cases that nevertheless remained high, and South Australia and Tasmania also reported lower or moderate levels.

Dr Wright advised people at higher risk, including those with chronic health conditions, children under five and older Australians, to seek medical advice about vaccination. FluTracking Australia’s latest self-reported data found that fever-and-cough illness had plateaued in September after a later surge than in previous years.