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New Super Flu Strain Hits Australia: Get Jabbed Now!
31 Mar
Summary
- Nearly 25,000 flu cases reported this year, exceeding last year's figures.
- A new, contagious flu variant called Super-K has been confirmed in Australia.
- Vaccination rates remain low, especially among children, urging immediate action.
Australians are strongly encouraged to get their flu vaccine due to a significant rise in cases this year. As of March 31, 2026, nearly 25,000 flu cases have been recorded, raising alarms among health professionals about a potential repeat of the severe flu season experienced in 2025. The previous year saw over 500,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,700 deaths, overwhelming hospitals and leading to critical issues like ambulance ramping.
A new, contagious flu variant, identified as Super-K (Subclade K), has been circulating in Australia since September of last year. This mutated Influenza A strain, first detected in the United States in June of last year, rendered last year's flu vaccine ineffective. Fortunately, the vaccine has now been updated to target Super-K, and health authorities are urging immediate vaccination, particularly for pregnant women and children.
Flu vaccination coverage has been alarmingly low. By the end of August 2025, vaccination rates for young children (six months to five years) were below 26 percent, and for children aged five to 15, only 14.5 percent were immunised. Over 2,700 flu cases this year have been among children under five, a demographic at heightened risk of hospitalisation. Needle-free intranasal vaccines are now available for young children in several states, including New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, with expanded age ranges in WA.
