New South Wales emergency departments are “getting slammed” by influenza this winter, with an almost 40 per cent increase in the number of infections over the past week.
A respiratory surveillance report released on Thursday by NSW Health revealed 12,421 cases of influenza had been reported in the week ending June 22.
It was a 38 per cent increase on the previous week.
“Influenza is having an enormous impact on our emergency departments at the moment,” Health Minister Ryan Park said.
“To be blunt, our EDs are getting slammed.”
Figures show the number of people presenting to emergency departments across the state with “influenza-like illness” has been steadily increasing since April.
The number of daily reports of influenza infection is also more than triple what it was this time last year.
Authorities say whooping cough and pneumonia rates, particularly among school-aged children are “unseasonably high”, while COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also prevalent in the community.
Residents urged to get vaccinated for COVID, flu
There have been 4,850 reported cases of COVID-19 in New South Wales in the week to June 22, 2024.
“Please check your vaccination status against COVID, particularly the elderly are still recommended to have boosters regularly,” Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.
“In the case of influenza, we would like to see those numbers of vaccinations much higher than they are.”
The health minister urged people to stay at home if they feel unwell and to contact a general practitioner or the Healthdirect telehealth service if their symptoms are not life-threatening.
“Please only use our emergency departments if you need them,” Mr Park said.
“The impact on our EDs at the moment is quite significant.
“We’ve had a period of a really tough trifecta, of RSV, COVID and influenza making what are already really busy emergency departments, even busier.”
Posted , updated