All influenza cases disappeared as Australia ran into a bunker during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. But as the country opens again to international travelers, doctors are bracing for a return of the flu.
Australia's strict lockdowns and border closures have drastically reduced the spread of influenza in the past two years.
In 2019, a record year of infections, Australia had 313,000 confirmed flu cases and 953 deaths. In 2020 there were 21,000 cases and 37 deaths. By comparison, in 2021, with the lockdown in full effect, there were only 598 flu cases and no deaths.
The Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory studied a variety of influenza strains collected from Australia, New Zealand and further afield overseas.
Free vaccines are available for children between 6 months and 5 years, as well as pregnant women and people over 65 years of age.
The government says it's also safe to get a flu vaccine and a COVID booster shot.
Click on the image above to listen to this feature.
