Australia Grapples with Triple Viral Surge as Flu, Covid, and RSV Hit Hard
Australia has been hit by a storm of viruses in recent months, with influenza, Covid-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) sweeping across the nation and leaving thousands unwell.
Deakin University epidemiologist Dr Catherine Bennett attributes the late-winter spike to several factors, particularly an unusually long 2025 flu season. “The influenza season peaked later than usual, from late June to mid-August, and is only now easing gradually,” she told Daily Mail.
Dr Bennett added that the surge isn’t limited to the flu. “There are still people with Covid and flu circulating. This spike is influenced by weather patterns, travel, and human behavior.”
The silver lining: overall infection rates are beginning to decline as spring brings warmer weather. Professor Peter Collignon from the Australian National University notes, “Viruses never disappear completely, but we expect case numbers to drop by mid-to-late October.”
While new Covid variants continue to emerge worldwide, experts say the threat is not as severe as in past years. “New strains appear every few months, but there’s nothing suggesting it will be worse than what we’ve already seen,” Dr Collignon said. “We’re equally exposed to many other viruses.”
Practical Advice for Staying Safe
Australians can reduce infection risk by staying home when sick and keeping a mask handy if they must go out—especially for those with underlying health conditions.
“The flu is like any other contagious illness: avoid contact with others while infectious,” Dr Bennett advised. Professor Collignon echoed this, saying, “This is the same advice we’ve been giving for 5, 10, even 20 years.”
Vaccinations remain key to prevention. Annual flu shots and Covid boosters—ideally given in March or April before the peak season—offer strong protection.
However, vaccination rates are falling. Nationally, fewer adults have received a Covid shot in the past year compared to the previous year, and influenza vaccine coverage has dropped to 30.5%, lower than in 2023 or 2022.
In Queensland, of the 77,956 flu cases recorded in 2025, 84% were unvaccinated. Dr Philip Britton, an infectious diseases physician at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, warns that vaccine fatigue and flu complacency have led to preventable hospitalizations. “It’s tragic to see children in intensive care from infections that could have been avoided,” he said.
Rising Cases, Regional Variations
GP visits for flu-like symptoms have remained well above the five-year average since late June. The most recent update (September 8–21) shows cases finally easing, though numbers are still higher than previous years.
Queensland remains a hotspot, reporting 2,706 new infections in just one week to September 26. Meanwhile, in New South Wales, flu levels have dropped from ‘high’ to ‘moderate’, yet over 4,000 new cases were recorded in the latest reporting week.
Even the common cold is surging: 6,334 people in NSW fell ill in the week to September 20 alone.
With viruses still circulating, health experts urge Australians to stay vigilant, get vaccinated, and take sensible precautions as the nation heads into the warmer months.
