Queenslanders are in the midst of one of the state's worst ever flu seasons, with more than 3500 people struck down in the past week alone.
There were 10,831 people diagnosed between January to last week, but by Thursday it had jumped by 3624 to 14,455.
Health Minister Cameron Dick said it was the second highest number of reported flu notifications in the state's history.
"It's a one-third increase in the total flu numbers in Queensland this year," he said on Thursday.
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital emergency specialist Dr David Rosengren said it had been a particularly bad flu season.
"This year we are seeing a significant spike," he said on Thursday.
Dr Rosengren said the problem was not that the vaccine wasn't working, it was the people who didn't get the jab.
The increase in Queenslanders with the flu and other illnesses has put more pressure on emergency departments, which experienced a 5.9 per cent in July compared to the same time last year.
Mr Dick said an additional 8,399 people presented to hospital last month.
"During the same period we've had 40,360 ambulance arrivals at public hospitals, an increase of almost five per cent compared to last year," he said.
The health minister urged people to protect themselves against the flu by practising good hygiene and getting vaccinated.
But Mr Dick also repeated his request for patients, particularly those with the flu, to reconsider their need to go to hospital and instead see their GP.
The state government started rolling out its $10 million Southeast Queensland Emergency Action Plan in July in a bid to reduce the burden on hospitals.
Mr Dick said 40 additional paramedics were being hired and more nurses were being placed in emergency departments.
"This action plan is certainly going a long way to help meet this increasing demand but we also need support from the community, which is why we're asking the public to keep our ambulances and emergency departments for emergencies only," he said.
