This flu season could be one of the worst on record, amid fears up to 4,000 Australians could die from the killer virus this year, health experts have warned.
There have already been nearly 50,000 confirmed cases of influenza in 2019 - nearly three times the numbers recorded at this time in the last few years.
According to ABS statistics, 1,255 people died from influenza in the horror 2017 season epidemic.
Dr Richard Kidd, chair of the Australian Medical Association Council of General Practice fears this year's death toll could be much worse after an early start to the flu season.
'We could well see 4,000 Australians die from influenza or complications this year,' the Brisbane GP said.
Nearly 50,000 Australians have been diagnosed with the flu this year, amid fears the death toll could rise to 4,000 nationwide this year
Dr Kidd told Daily Mail Australia figures of hospitalisation and deaths were already above average in Queensland, and he expected these would continue to rise nationally.
'I know there have been higher than previous rates of admission to hospital and intensive care units,' he said. 'I think across the country, the figures will probably get worse,' he said.
Influenza diagnoses from January 1 to May 15 by state:
ACT - 312
NSW - 12,053
NT - 662
QLD - 10,506
SA - 12,885
TAS - 771
VIC - 4,627
WA - 2,420
TOTAL - 49,361
'With the data already to hand, [the rate of infection] is already two or three times higher than previous years.'
Up to May 15, there have been 49,361 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, and 88 influenza-related deaths.
International flu expert and head of research at the National Centre of Immunisation Research Professor Robert Booy recently told the ABC the figures are among the worst on record for this time of year.
'It's shaping up to be a moderately severe flu season,' Professor Booy told Daily Mail Australia this week.
'Last year was a quiet season and as a result, not many people have experienced the latest flu strain. Time will tell but there is a long way to go to top the monster epidemic of 2017.'
NSW Health released the first of its weekly Influenza Surveillance Reports for the year this week.
The figures revealed an shows that the flu season began early, with 856 confirmed flu cases for the week ending May 12, higher than the 812 notifications in the previous week.
'Respiratory presentations to NSW emergency departments increased and remain above the usual range,' the report states.
'Influenza continued to circulate above the usual range seen for this time of year; influenza A strains predominated.'
Western Sydney had the
