The existing flu vaccine has not protected people from a nasty strain of the virus known as the “Brisbane” flu, an influenza expert says.
It has been a particularly bad flu season in Queensland with almost 15,500 cases reported this year.
There has been a spike in the past month, with more than 3,000 cases in the past week.
Dr Alan Hampson from the Influenza Specialist Group said the current three-strain vaccine has not protected people from the Brisbane flu.
“There is a four-strain vaccine available but it’s only been brought into the country in small amounts. Whether there’s still any available I’m not quite sure,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
“But that would have covered the Brisbane strain as well. But it’s not the vaccine that the Government purchased for our usual category of at risk people.”
Dr Hampson said the problem will happen every year until a vaccine that covers the four strains of the virus is rolled out for general use.
“The way we were running earlier on in the season it looked like we had it right, it was a match for virtually all the B strains that were around,” he said.
“Then all of a sudden, out of the blue we’ve suddenly got this second round of viruses, this so-called Brisbane strain particularly in Queensland and it really is having a big impact.”
‘This is the busiest year we’ve had on record’
Metro south hospital and health service chief executive Dr Richard Ashby said emergency departments at Logan, Redlands and Princess Alexandra Hospital have seen record numbers of patients in their emergency departments.
“When I say record numbers I mean the highest numbers for 30 years,” Dr Ashby said.
“This is the busiest year we’ve had on record — our numbers are up about 20 per cent year on year.
“We’ve had a particularly bad flu season. [It’s] not just more cases but sicker patients. It’s really put a heavy load on.”
But Dr Ashby said the flu season was starting to show signs of ending.
“It’s starting to tail off … last week was our worst week, but all the modelling is predicting this should tail off over the next week or so.”