Flu deaths and cases continue to climb as winter sets in, prompting Victoria's health minister to plead with people to get vaccinated and stay home if sick.
More than 18,400 people have been diagnosed with the flu since the season started late last year, months earlier than usual.
"Sadly, we've had 31 confirmed flu deaths so far this year, the vast majority of those elderly members of the community living in nursing homes," Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told reporters on Monday.
