Infectious disease experts are warning of drug-resistant and rapidly spreading strains of Influenza this coming season.
They say it's time to consider a nationally-funded vaccination program for children exposed to the virus.
Rapidly spreading, drug-resistant flu strains have prompted calls to explore a national vaccination program for children under five, in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children - the most vulnerable demographic.
A conference of infectious disease experts has heard it's becoming easier to spread the 'Flu, prompting a look at prevention, rather than cures.
Between the close proximity of employees jumping on trains and trams and within small office areas where there's a lot of workers, the ability to rapidly transmit is a major concern this season.
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In other words they're fitter, and better able to spread and infect individuals.
According to infectious disease expert, Dr Aeron Hurt, about 2-percent of H1N1 - or Swine Flu - is now resistant to the antiviral drug Tamiflu.
And the drugs that may be used to treat severe cases may no longer be effective.
In 2009 about 37,000 Australians were infected with Swine Flu virus and 186 people died.
The 'Flu season was particularly severe this Northern Hemisphere winter with parts of Europe and the United States the worst hit.
The growing resistance to antibiotics is also leading to inconvenient and intrusive outcomes for some patients.
Some patients are being hospitalised, treated with an intravenous drip or given hospital treatment in their home.
So while some anti-viral and anti-bacterial drugs may be less effective, fortunately vaccination is not.
