Aussies warned to 'stay at home' as influenza cases spike across the country Flu cases up across Australia 'Fatigue' over Covid-era rules blamed READ MORE: Deadly dengue fever health warning for Aussies By Tileah Dobson For Nca Newswire Published: 20:48 EDT, 21 June 2024 | Updated: 20:49 EDT, 21 June 2024 e-mail View comments Aussies are being urged to stay home if they are unwell as influenza cases spike across the country. Hospitals across Victoria have been put on high alert due to a surge in flu cases. Flu cases have risen by 28 per cent in Victoria over the past two weeks, with experts warning of more variants and low vaccination rates as the cause for the high numbers.
New South Wales has also seen a 33 per cent spike in serious cases, according to the latest NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report. Aussies who come down with a sniffle will know within 24 hours whether it's the flu, Covid, a common cold or one of 14 different respiratory viruses, thanks to a new Aussie test. The results of the pathology test will allow people to act quickly to purchase antiviral medication that could shorten the length and severity of the flu or Covid.
Epidemiologist, Professor Adrian Esterman, points to fatigue over Covid-era rules as a key reason for the high case numbers. 'Fewer and fewer people are protecting themselves with face masks and handwashing and because of that, people are more exposed to the flu than this time last year,' he told 7NEWS. Aussies who come down with a sni.
