Qld on track for record flu season

Authorities say Queensland is on course for a record flu season with the numbers of those infected with the disease likely to keep rising for weeks.

The flu is hitting Queensland hard and the state is on track for a record season, with 24,605 people struck down by the disease.

About 4700 fell ill in the last week in what's shaping up to be a more severe flu season than 2015, which affected 28,059 people across the state.

That's up about 600 cases from the week before, Health Minister Cameron Dick told reporters on Tuesday.

"It's a severe flu season," he said.

"The flu continues to bite across Queensland."

In the past three weeks about 12,500 people have been struck down by the debiltating virus.

Mr Dick said he was hopeful the season was nearing its peak, and the state's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said numbers of people infected with flu would probably continue to rise before levelling off in the coming weeks.

About 75 per cent of those hit by the illness have contracted influenza A, which affect adults more, Dr Young said.

Mr Dick on Tuesday launched a social media campaign encouraging Queenslanders to regularly wash hands, cover mouths when coughing or sneezing, get vaccinated, seek medical advice before going to emergency departments and stay home when sick.

"If people are sick, the best thing they can do is try and recover, try and stay at home, particularly if you've got children'" he said.


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Source: AAP



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