Leading GP warns ‘massive explosion’ in preventable illness threatens to overwhelm EDs
Professor Michael Clements says doctors are concerned about the winter peak in particularly northern parts of the country.
Cases of influenza, pertussis and gastroenteritis have surged, with a leading GP warning the spike in flu was yet to peak in parts of Australia, and could “potentially overwhelm” some hospitals.
The winter peak still lies ahead for warmer, northern regions, prompting RACGP rural chair Associate Professor Michael Clementsa to urge unvaccinated patients to have an influenza vaccine.
More than 170,000 influenza cases have been confirmed so far in 2024, with 29% of them in children under nine years of age.
Infections in 2024 are already 27% higher than the first six months of 2023.
