Australia Experiencing Sharp Increase in Flu Cases

According to CNN, experts are keeping a close watch on the current state of influenza (flu) in Australia, as it could also be an indicator of what the United States can expect later this year.

Flu activity in Australia, where it’s now winter, began sooner than normal with a sharp increase of cases in early May, according to the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care. Also of note this season, the number of Australian children getting sick appears to be higher than those of other age groups. Still, the total number of cases is lower than what they were at the same time in 2019 and 2022.

It’s not unusual for scientists to rely on the flu season in Australia and other countries in the Southern Hemisphere to predict what might happen in the U.S. for the upcoming fall and winter, but it’s also not a fail-safe method, according to Carrie Reed, chief of the Influenza Division of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemiology and Prevention Branch. “It’s not always a predictor of what’s going to happen here the next season,” she admitted to CNN. “Flu is a very interesting pathogen to deal with. Every flu season is a little bit different. The virus is constantly evolving. And so, every year, it is a new challenge.”

According to Dr. William Schaffner, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases medical director and Vanderbilt University Medical Center Division of Infectious Diseases professor , the U.S. flu season could also be unique due to the number of recommended vaccines. “Looking at this fall, we are going to have a special challenge because, in addition to urging everyone to get their annual influenza vaccine, we’re going to have a new updated COVID-19 vaccine that will be available. And in addition to that, two new RSV vaccines just have been licensed. And in a week and a half or so, the CDC’s advisory committee will provide recommendations as to who ought to get that vaccine, and it’s going to be at least older adults. So, some people will be recommended to get not just one, not just two—three vaccines,” he told CNN.

According to the CDC, between 2019 and 2020, an estimated 25,000 Americans died from the flu. Due to extremely low flu activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC has no estimates for what occurred during the 2020–2021 season. Preliminary estimates for 2021–2022 stand at just 5,000 deaths.

To be prepared for the upcoming U.S. flu season, check out Don’t Forget About the Flu.