03/07/2025
Queensland respiratory infection update
Flu and COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalisations across Queensland remain on the rise and this trend is expected to continue over the coming weeks.
Queenslanders are reminded to prioritise good hygiene habits such as washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or inside of your arm and staying at home when sick to stop the spread of acute respiratory illnesses.
In the past week (23-29 June 2025), more than 2,800 flu cases have been recorded – which is the highest number of flu cases recorded in a single week this year to date.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Heidi Carroll said nearly 300 hospital beds per day are currently occupied by patients hospitalised for flu and COVID-19 across the state.
“Around half of all flu hospitalisations and 65 per cent of COVID hospitalisations are among people aged 65 and over,” Dr Carroll said.
Dr Carroll said more than 90 per cent of Queenslanders admitted to hospital with flu or COVID-19 are not up to date with their vaccinations.
“Vaccination is especially important for anyone aged 65 years or older and people at higher risk of severe COVID-19. I encourage people to discuss their COVID vaccine and booster options with their vaccine provider,” Dr Carroll said.
“For influenza, nearly 3,000 people have been hospitalised this year with almost all of these hospitalisations (92 per cent) being among people who were not vaccinated.”
This year, nearly 450 children aged between six months and 17 years have been hospitalised for influenza in Queensland.
“Children are more likely to catch and spread influenza contributing to transmission in the community, but also young children are vulnerable to serious illness from the flu,” Dr Carroll said.
“While you may still get the flu after being vaccinated, the primary purpose of the vaccine is to prevent serious illness and hospitalisation.”
Dr Carroll said QueQueensland Healthntinued to closely monitor respiratory infection case numbers and provide advice to the community as needed.
Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 surveillance data as of 29 June 2025 is below. For further details and weekly updates on the current situation, please visit Queensland Health’s Acute respiratory infection surveillance reporting website.
Influenza
This year to date, Queensland has recorded 29,514 cases.
Influenza activity is increasing, with year-to-date (YTD) case counts 19 per cent higher than the same period last year (24,708 cases were recorded between 1 January and 29 June 2024).
Of the 29,514 flu cases this year to date:
• 2,904 (10 per cent) were aged less than 5 years, while 5,542 (19 per cent) were aged 65 years and over.
• 2,992 people have been hospitalised this YTD with the flu (119 people in hospital with influenza as on 29 June 2025). Of these hospitalisations, 1,450 (48 per cent) were aged 65 years and older.
• There have been 80 flu related deaths this year.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV notifications have remained steady, with 889 cases notified in the last week.
There have been 907 fewer RSV hospitalisations among infants under 6 months of age since the RSV prevention program commenced in April 2024 than would otherwise have been expected.
There have been 17,375 cases reported this year. Of these cases:
• 4,737 (27 per cent) were children aged less than 2 years.
• 2,044 (12 per cent) were admitted to hospital, with 811 (40 per cent) of these aged less than 2 years. As of 29 June 2025, 61 people were in hospital with RSV.
COVID-19
There were 1,238 COVID-19 notifications reported in the past week.
To date, 21,297 cases have been recorded. Of these cases:
• 5,272 (25 per cent) were aged 75 years and over.
• 4,428 (21 per cent) were admitted to hospital, including 2,864 (65 per cent) aged 65 years and older. As of 29 June 2025, 173 people were in hospital with COVID-19.
NB.1.8.1 is currently the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant circulating in Queensland and nationally, as well as neighbouring countries.
Further information:
• Vaccination is the best defence against winter viruses to stop the chain of transmission and prevent serious illness.
• Queenslanders are encouraged to consider COVID-19 booster dose based on age and risk assessment as well as an annual flu vaccination. More information is available on the Australian Government website.
• Flu and COVID-19 vaccination is free and widely available through more than 2,500 community immunisation providers, including GPs, community pharmacies and community clinics, for all Queensland residents aged 6 months or older. More information on the 2025 Free Flu Vaccination Program is available on the Queensland Health website.
• RSV vaccination is free in Queensland for all expectant mothers during 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, and some infants may be eligible for the free infant RSV immunisation. For further information on eligibility, visit the Queensland Health website.
• Vaccination during pregnancy protects infants against serious illness from RSV from birth and up to six months of age.
