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Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious respiratory virus that spreads easily from person to person and infects the nose, throat, and lungs. While most cases of the flu resolve on their own within a week, the flu can be dangerous and even fatal for high-risk groups. In Australia, the peak flu season generally falls between April and October. There are around 3,500 flu-related deaths in Australia each year, and approximately 18,000 hospitalisations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of deaths | 3500 each year |
| Number of hospitalisations | 18,000 each year |
| Number of deaths in 2024 | Higher than in 2022 and 2023 |
| Number of deaths in 2017 | 251,147 |
| Number of deaths in 2019 | 304,593 |
| Number of deaths in 2016 | 90,860 |
| Number of deaths in 2018 | 58,856 |
| Annual excess all-cause mortality attributable to influenza for Australians aged 50-64 years | 6.4 per 100,000 |
| Annual excess all-cause mortality attributable to influenza for Australians aged ≥65 years | 116.4 per 100,000 |
| Number of deaths in 2025 | Lower than the previous five-year average |
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What You'll Learn
Annual flu vaccination is the best protection
Annual Flu Vaccination: The Best Protection
The flu is a contagious virus that spreads easily from person to person and infects the nose, throat, and lungs. In Australia, the peak flu season is generally between April and October. While most cases of the flu get better without treatment, the virus can cause serious complications requiring hospitalisation and can even be fatal. There are around 3,500 flu-related deaths in Australia each year, with approximately 18,000 hospitalisations. The flu can lead to conditions such as bronchitis, croup, and ear infections, and it can worsen existing chronic medical problems. For example, people with asthma may experience attacks when they have the flu.
The best way to protect yourself and others from the flu is through annual vaccination. Vaccination is recommended for all Australians aged six months and older, and it is mandatory to report flu vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to monitor coverage rates. Annual vaccination is important because new strains of the flu emerge each year, requiring a new vaccine. Vaccination can help prevent you from getting the flu altogether or reduce the severity of your symptoms if you do get infected. It takes two to four weeks for the flu vaccine to become effective, as it builds your immunity against the virus.
The flu vaccine achieves this by introducing a small amount of the inactivated virus into your body. This prompts your body to produce antibodies, which are specialised proteins that fight off the virus. These antibodies provide protection against three or four influenza viruses predicted to be the most common during the upcoming season. Additionally, vaccination helps reduce the spread of the flu to others, benefiting those who are more susceptible to the virus or other conditions, such as COVID-19. While there is ongoing research into the effectiveness of annual flu vaccines, it remains the best available protection against the flu.
It is important to note that the flu vaccine does not cause the flu. However, some mild side effects may occur, such as soreness or redness at the injection site. These side effects are typically minor and should not deter individuals from getting vaccinated. By getting vaccinated annually, you can protect yourself and contribute to reducing the overall burden of the flu in the community. Remember, even if you have had the flu in the past, new strains emerge annually, making annual vaccination crucial for ongoing protection.
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Flu season in Australia is April to October
In Australia, the flu season generally spans from April to October, with a peak between June and September. The timing of the flu season varies each year, but it typically aligns with the cooler months.
The flu is an acute respiratory illness caused by infection with one of the flu viruses. It is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. The virus can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces. While most people recover from the flu without lasting effects, it can cause severe illness in some cases, leading to hospitalisation and even death. Older adults, babies, young children, pregnant people, and individuals with underlying medical conditions are at a higher risk of developing flu-related complications.
In Australia, there are approximately 3,500 flu-related deaths and 18,000 hospitalisations annually. The flu can lead to secondary infections and trigger inflammatory responses in the respiratory tract, causing damage to the lungs and, in severe cases, fluid build-up in the airways and multi-organ failure. It can also exacerbate existing medical conditions, such as asthma.
Vaccination is the best defence against the flu. Annual flu shots are recommended for all Australians aged 6 months and older, with enhanced vaccines available for those aged 60 and above. Vaccination not only protects the individual but also helps prevent the spread of the virus to others. Good infection control measures, including hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes, are also essential to curb the transmission of the flu.
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Flu can cause serious complications requiring hospitalisation
The flu is a common respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus, which infects the nose, throat, and lungs. While most cases of the flu get better without treatment, it can cause serious complications requiring hospitalisation, especially for those with underlying health conditions or pregnant women. During recent flu seasons in Australia, 9 out of 10 people hospitalised with the flu had at least one underlying health condition.
People with certain chronic conditions are at a higher risk of developing serious flu complications. This includes those with chronic lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, or cystic fibrosis; neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions; blood disorders such as sickle cell disease; endocrine disorders such as diabetes; and heart disease. Additionally, those with weakened immune systems due to diseases like HIV/AIDS or cancer, or due to medications such as chemotherapy or immunosuppressants, are also at higher risk.
Pregnant women are at risk of serious flu complications, including pregnancy loss and neural tube defects in the developing foetus. Young children are also considered at higher risk, with the highest risk for those under two years old and the highest hospitalisation and death rates among infants younger than six months old.
The flu can lead to conditions such as bronchitis, croup, and ear infections. It can also worsen existing medical problems, such as triggering asthma attacks. More severe complications include pneumonia, an infection deep in the lungs, which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and other life-threatening conditions. Flu infections in the respiratory tract can cause an extreme inflammatory response, resulting in damage to lung cells and, in severe cases, fluid buildup in the airways and multi-organ failure.
While vaccination can help prevent the flu, there are currently no effective drugs available to reduce the response to the virus when patients with severe flu are hospitalised. However, researchers are working on finding treatments to help these patients. Annual vaccination is still the best protection against the flu, reducing the risk of infection or lessening the severity of symptoms.
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Mortality rates are higher for Indigenous Australians
In Australia, the flu season generally runs from April to October. While most cases of the flu get better without treatment, the virus can cause serious complications requiring hospitalisation and can even be fatal. There are around 3,500 flu-related deaths in Australia each year, and approximately 18,000 hospitalisations. The flu can lead to conditions such as bronchitis, croup, and ear infections, and can exacerbate existing chronic medical problems. For instance, people with asthma may experience attacks when they have the flu.
Indigenous Australians are disproportionately affected by the flu, and it is a leading cause of hospitalisation among this population. During the 1919 influenza pandemic, up to 10-20% of Indigenous Australians died, compared to less than 1% of non-Indigenous Australians. Similarly, during the H1N1 pandemic, Indigenous Australians comprised 16% of hospitalisations and 9.7% of ICU admissions, despite making up only 2.5% of the population.
Several factors contribute to the higher mortality rates among Indigenous Australians. One factor is crowded living conditions, which facilitate the spread of the virus. Additionally, Indigenous Australians have higher rates of chronic diseases and comorbidities, which can lead to more severe outcomes. Differences in immune responses also play a role, with Indigenous Australians exhibiting lower levels of influenza-specific T-cell immunity, particularly CD8+ T-cell responses. This makes them more susceptible to severe influenza infections and increases their risk of hospitalisation and death.
To address these disparities, early immunisation against influenza is recommended for all Indigenous Australians. The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free influenza vaccinations for Indigenous Australians aged six months and older. Pre-emptive vaccination is crucial in protecting this vulnerable population and reducing their risk of severe illness and death from the flu.
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There are around 3500 flu deaths in Australia annually
Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious virus that spreads easily from person to person and infects the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu is typically spread during winter, with Australia's peak season generally lasting from April to October. While most flu cases resolve on their own within a week without treatment, the virus can cause serious complications, especially in high-risk groups, and even lead to death.
Over the past decade, there has been a concerning rise in hospitalisations and deaths due to influenza in Australia. On average, there are around 3500 flu-related deaths in Australia each year, with 18,000 hospitalisations. These numbers represent a substantial burden on the healthcare system and highlight the severity of the flu's impact.
The flu can lead to various complications, such as bronchitis, croup, ear infections, and pneumonia. In severe cases, it can trigger an extreme inflammatory response, resulting in damage to the cells in the lungs, fluid buildup in the airways, and multi-organ failure. The virus can also worsen existing chronic medical problems, such as asthma, and increase the risk of secondary bacterial infections, which may require antibiotic treatment.
Annual flu vaccination is the best protection against the flu. It helps prevent infection or lessen the severity of symptoms and also prevents the spread to others. However, despite vaccination efforts, the flu continues to evolve, with new strains emerging each year, requiring ongoing research and the development of new vaccines.
While vaccination can effectively reduce the spread and severity of the flu, there are currently no drugs available to specifically treat severe cases once patients are hospitalised. This highlights the importance of prevention and the need for ongoing research to find effective treatments for those severely affected by the flu.
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Frequently asked questions
There are around 3,500 flu-related deaths in Australia each year.
304,593 people in Australia were confirmed as having the flu in 2019.
In March 2025, there were 44 flu-related deaths in Australia.
In the first week of August 2025, there were 1,285 influenza cases notified to the Department of Health.
The best way to prevent the flu is to get an annual flu vaccination.
