WA in midst of record-breaking INFLUENZA hell

A triple virus threat is looming in WA as experts warn the spread of infection has returned to full speed.

Professor Yuben Moodley said this winter could be quite unique with COVID-19, influenza, and RSV bubbling away.

“These viruses rely on proximity for spread so we would envisage having a fair amount of spread within the community,” he said.

COVID-19 numbers have been hovering around 3000 cases a week with new cases increasing by six per cent to almost 3500 last week, and hospital admissions for the virus jumped 10 per cent to 112.

Influenza infections in WA have already soared with 346 flu cases in January, 477 in February, and 694 in March – the highest number ever reported for the month of March.

Pharmacy Guild WA president Andrew Ngeow said the flu season is expected earlier and could peak earlier too.

“It is certainly a huge concern we have seen the numbers peak in the Northern European winter as well as out of the eastern states and it looks like we’re following the same pattern here in Perth,” he said.

There have already been over 15,000 recorded cases of the flu in Australia in 2023, according to the Department of Health.

In 2022, that volume of cases was not seen until May.

“In the hospital we saw a lot of admissions in July and August but it would be reasonable to suggest the peak will be late May, early June,” Dr Moodley said.

He said now was the time to get up to speed with flu vaccinations.

“More than 360 thousand flu jabs were administered in pharmacies across WA last year,” he said.

“It’s expected even more people will roll up their sleeves this flu season.”

Under the national immunisation program flu vaccines are available from April.