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Hospitals in Victoria are on high alert with a predicted spike in flu cases across the state.
Flu cases have increased by 28 per cent across Victoria in the past two weeks.
Experts say there are more variants than usual and lower than normal vaccination rates.
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“Fewer people are protecting themselves with face masks and hand washing and because of that people are more exposed to the flu than at this time last year,” epidemiologist Professor Adrian Esterman told 7NEWS.
“The second reason is that the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere started a little earlier.
“The current strain of flu circulating now is identical to the one seen last winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
“And of course we’re seeing more and more people traveling abroad, so they’re bringing that tension back.”
The most at risk are the elderly, young children and people with weakened immunity.
Esterman said the flu shot makes a big difference in how affected people are by the flu.
“Current flu vaccines are about 40 to 60 percent effective at preventing illness from the flu.”
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