More than 12,000 people are struck down with flu in just one state - as doctors warn it could be the worst killer influenza season in years

  • More than 12,000 people hit with the flu in South Australia since January
  • Of 12,339 cases, 17 people have already lost their lives including elderly people
  • Around 40,000 people have been ill nationwide, three times more than last year
  • SA Chief Medical Officer Paddy Phillips called the flu rate 'unprecedented' 

By Aidan Wondracz For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

South Australia has been rocked by a sky-high number of flu cases in what has been labelled as an 'unprecedented' start to the flu season. 

The state has recorded 12,339 cases since January this year, with 17 deaths.

Included in the list of fatalities are a 15-year-old and a large number of elderly people.

'Sadly, 13 have been in residential aged care facilities,' South Australia's Chief Medical Officer Paddy Phillips said of the deaths.

Mr Phillips noted the number of influenza cases had been 'unprecedented'. 

'It is an unprecedented year, we have never seen influenza in these numbers at this time of year,' he said.  

South Australia has been rocked with sky-high flu cases in what is tipped to be one of the worst influenza seasons in years (stock image)

South Australia has been rocked with sky-high flu cases in what is tipped to be one of the worst influenza seasons in years (stock image)

The state has recorded 12,339 cases since January this year, of which 17 people have already lost their lives (stock image)

The state has recorded 12,339 cases since January this year, of which 17 people have already lost their lives (stock image)

Around 40,000 people have been struck with the flu nationwide, three times the usual number recorded at this time of year.

So far 2017 holds the record for recorded flu cases with 103,852 reported for the year. 

A record 1,100 died from influenza, with elderly people making up 90 per cent of fatalities.

Experts say flu season usually reaches its peak between June and September.

Some states have already recorded more influenza cases this year than in the same period in 2018. 

In New South Wales alone, more than 10,121 people have fallen ill, up from 3,803 in 2018.

Already there have been 27 cases of influenza outbreaks in NSW, while there were a total of 46 in the entirety of 2018. 

South Australia only recorded 1,348 this time last year, compared to the more than 12,000 cases this year. 

Mr Phillips stressed the importance of getting the flu-shot in order to stem the rising figures ahead of winter.

'That’s why we very much encourage everyone, as they’re doing, to get a flu shot every year.'

NSW Health has 2.5 million flu vaccines at their disposal, while hundreds of thousands of immunisation doses have already been handed out in South Australia.

South Australia only recorded 1,348 this time last year, compared to the more than 12,000 cases this year

South Australia only recorded 1,348 this time last year, compared to the more than 12,000 cases this year

'This year has been unprecedented, not only in the number of cases, but also in demand,' Mr Phillips said.

'So far, we’ve distributed 456,000 immunisation doses, in the first six weeks of program [since April 1], that compares to 370,000 for the whole of 2014.' 

Mr Phillips noted that extra orders have had to be distributed to suppliers because of 'unprecedented demand'.  

Virologist Professor William Rawlinson noted there was no denying the number of flu cases this year would outpace the 2018 figure.

However, he noted May had delivered lower figures than the months between February and April. 

'It’s surprising to see so many cases at this time of year. 

'Certainly you can say without fear of being wrong that we’ll have more cases than in 2018. What’s going to happen in the future season, we’re in a bit of unknown territory.' 

 

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