Warnings of a particularly bad flu season in Ipswich with an increasing number of children contracting the virus.
There has been 4000 cases of influenza in West Moreton Hospital and Health District this year.
It comes as health authorities remind locals to take advantage of the free flu vaccination.
West Moreton Chief Executive Hannah Bloch said that it has been a particularly challenging season.
“We’ve seen just in the last few weeks alone, just over 2000 cases of flu new notifiable conditions – so it is still very prevalent in the community.
“We’re seeing the highest rates of that flu in young kids and children under the age of ten.
“So it is really important that our community are having their vaccination where ever possible, staying home when their sick and practising those hygiene things like we got used to in COVID like wearing a mask if you are unwell or washing your hands regularly,” she said.
Chief Executive Hannah Bloch is also hoping to increase the immunisation rates to help prevent the spread of the flu in the local region.
“When you look at the population only having 31 percent of people vaccinated – that is having an impact definitely.
“We hope by vaccinating we can stop it where we can and hope we see the flu season peak in the next couple of weeks as the weather becomes warmer,” she said.
The flu vaccination is free for those aged 6 months and over in Queensland.
