A flu warning from Queensland Health amid an unseasonal spike in cases.
Their data shows that there has been nearly 100,000 flu cases recorded this year, which is 21 per cent higher than the same time last year.
In Townsville there has been more than 4,200 cases this year.
Health experts are encouraging people to stay at home if you’re sick and practice good hygiene over the festive period.
Queensland Health’s Communicable Diseases Branch Executive Director Dr Heidi Carroll says flu cases and hospitalisations remained above expected rates for this time of year.
“While flu case numbers and hospitalisations remain well below the winter peak, the recent summertime increase in cases is unusual,” Dr Carroll says.
“This increase may be driven by more people travelling and attending social gatherings. Additionally, the northern hemisphere is currently seeing high case numbers of the Influenza A strain, and this is contributing to global spread, including within Australia.”
