A growing number of Aussie households are falling victim to a trifecta of nasty viruses as cases of influenza, Covid and RSV skyrocket across the country.
More than 50,000 flu cases were detected in the first two weeks of July, with cases the highest in NSW (17,112), followed by Victoria (9,991) and Queensland (6,620).
Covid and RSV cases were sitting at around 13,000 cases for the same period.
The latest Australian Respiratory Surveillance report also found a 50 per cent increase in hospital admissions for the flu, with the majority of cases influenza A, and a worrying increase in patients requiring ventilators to help them breathe.
Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said that since April, more people have been hospitalised for the flu than RSV or Covid.
‘It is worrying regarding the number of influenza hospitalisations and deaths,’ she said.
‘Influenza vaccine data shows vaccine uptake is still at the lower end of that seen over the past few years, including the most at risk group over 65 years of age.’
NSW Health reports influenza activity has increased 42 per cent for the week ending on June 28, while in Queensland, influenza hospitalisations have skyrocketed.
A growing number of Aussie households are falling victim to a trifecta of nasty viruses as cases of influenza, Covid and RSV skyrocket across the country (pictured, Brisbane’s CBD)
Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett (pictured) said that since April, more people have been hospitalised for the flu than RSV or Covid
‘Since the start of the year, nearly 3,600 people have been hospitalised with flu – with 90 per cent of patients not vaccinated. This year’s flu hospitalisations are nearly 16 per cent higher than the same period last year,’ a spokesman said.
Currently, national coverage is sitting at 28.9 per cent for the 2025 flu season and only 13.7 per cent of children aged five to 14 years old are vaccinated.
Professor Bennett said influenza and Covid has peaked in NSW, but not in Victoria.
While there is no surveillance data to examine correlations between illness severity and vaccination status, studies continue to show Covid booster doses reduced the risk of severe disease against the current dominant variants.
RACGP vice president Dr Ramya Raman said from May to June 2025, monthly influenza cases have more than doubled in most states off the back of one of the worst flu seasons on record in the Northern Hemisphere.
She said so far this July more than 16,000 Covid cases, 57,000 flu cases and 18,600 RSV notified cases had been lab-confirmed.
She said the data is trending in a worrying direction.
‘I’ve been in clinic for the last few weeks and certainly during the July school holidays I’ve seen a significant number of patients who have been unwell with respiratory symptoms and have tested positive to the flu or Covid,’ she said.
Doctors recommend people stay at home when they feel unwell (pictured, Sydney’s CBD)
Dr Raman recommended people wear a mask in public to reduce the risk of transmission and talk to their GP about vaccination.
‘Flu immunisation coverage is down, so if [patients] haven’t had a flu shot this year, now is the time. We can’t be complacent,’ she said.
‘We can keep everyone safer, including those too young to get a vaccine, by reducing the severity and caseload of influenza in the community.
‘That means fewer hospitalisations, fewer deaths, and easier recovery.’
There have been 180 deaths due to influenza in the first four months of 2025, a 73 per cent increase on the same period last year.
There have been 19 deaths due to RSV published in the first four months of 2025.
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