Vic flu outbreaks double in aged homes

The number of flu cases in Victorian aged care homes has more than doubled on the same period in 2016.

Influenza outbreaks in Victorian aged care homes have more than doubled on 2016 as the state battles more than 10,000 flu cases.

The Victorian Health Department has had 177 notifications of respiratory outbreaks in aged care homes in 2017, up from 77 in same period the previous year.

"Busy emergency departments like the Royal Children's (Hospital) are facing increasing demand as we hit the peak of the winter flu season," Victoria's chief health officer Professor Charles Guest said on Friday.