The ‘triple threat’ flu wave is hitting Sydney as infections rise

A ‘triple threat’ of rising flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detections across New South Wales has prompted health authorities to urge people over the age of 65 to get their free flu vaccine.

The NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report released on Thursday revealed a 27 per cent increase in flu infections, and a 23 per cent increase in Covid-19 infections week on week.

However, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said despite rapidly increasing flu transmissions, with cases expected to “increase rapidly” in the coming weeks, vaccine numbers were not at the level they needed to be.

‘Less than half of people aged 65 and over in NSW have received their flu vaccine this year and we really need to see that number rise, especially as people in this age group are among those most at risk of severe illness,’ says Dr. Chant. said.

‘We expect flu cases to increase rapidly in the coming weeks, so now is the time to get vaccinated if you haven’t already.’

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park reiterated calls for vulnerable Australians to get vaccinated.

“What we are seeing is a triple threat of flu, Covid and RSV cases circulating rapidly in the community,” he said.

“I would once again remind the community to keep up to date with your vaccinations, especially those over 65 – it really is the simplest yet most effective way to protect yourself and the community.”

To reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments, Mr Park urged people with non-life-threatening conditions to contact NSW HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse.

Mr Park also urged people to stay at home if they are not feeling well, or to ‘mask up’ if they need to go out.

Children between six months and five years, pregnant women, Aboriginal people aged six months and over and people with chronic health conditions are also advised to get the free shot.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said despite rapidly increasing flu transmissions, with cases expected to ‘increase rapidly’ in coming weeks, vaccine numbers were not where they needed to be

The report also found that Covid-19 reports were ‘increasing across all ages and in most local health districts (LHDs)’.

“Over the past week, there continued to be high reports of COVID-19 among people aged 90 and over,” the report said.

“LHDs with smaller populations, such as Far West LHD, experience greater variability in reporting rates.”

The number of RSV cases was also high in children between two and four years of age, but reports of positive cases stabilized in children under the age of two.

The number of reports increased week-on-week by 4 percent.

Separate attention was also paid to whooping cough and pneumonia.

The highest rates of whooping cough were found in children between the ages of five and 14, and the number of cases appeared to be increasing.

Notification rates between 2022 and 2024 showed a rapid increase, with one per 100,000 people recording the virus in 2022, to 10.8 cases per 100,000 cases on 2-23.

So far, in 2024, that figure has already risen to 85.4 reports per 100,000 people.

Pneumonia, a potentially fatal infection of the lungs, is also a concern for health authorities, leading to ‘unusually high’ emergency cases in children and young adults, especially those aged between five and 16.

NSW Health said data suggested an infection by the bacteria mycoplasma pneumoniae was likely the cause of the virus, which killed NSW from an epidemic.

‘M. pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia in school-aged children and epidemics occur every three to five years,” the report said.

“The last epidemic in NSW was before the COVID-19 pandemic.”