This winter was a rough one for the ACT. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
If it seemed like a bunch of your colleagues were calling in sick recently, you weren’t imagining it.
According to official statistics, both the ACT and NSW were hit hard by respiratory diseases this winter.
As of Friday morning (29 August), the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System dashboard lists the ACT as having had 11,674 respiratory disease cases so far this year, including 6485 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases.
The dashboard also indicates that there are almost 2000 more flu cases this winter than in 2024, when 4835 cases were recorded in the Territory (for comparison, Canberra recorded 4103 cases in 2023).
Community pharmacist Mark Leighton, who works in Conder and Queanbeyan, said he had seen a range of respiratory diseases.
“We’re seeing a mix of everything … there was a bit of a COVID spike around June [and] early July,” he said.
“[For] influenza cases reported by patients, I’m probably seeing more this year or more reported this year than what I was seeing last year.”
He also said that some people were being diagnosed with two respiratory diseases at once – such as having the flu and COVID-19 at the same time – and there had been some cases of whooping cough around earlier in the winter.
In Canberra, the ACT Government’s most recent weekly reports showed rates of COVID-19 and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were fairly consistent, while the flu cases were often higher.
They didn’t escape the bugs across the border in NSW.
Royal Australian College of General Practice’s NSW and ACT chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman said they had observed several illnesses were circulating around southern Australia.
“We’re still seeing a high level of influenza and a moderate amount of RSV in the ACT and nearby in NSW, though it looks like cases may have peaked for the year in July.
“COVID-19 is still with us, but fortunately, cases are at a lower level this end of winter.”
She said the Riverina, Illawarra, and southeast NSW regions appeared to have experienced a less severe flu season than last year.
According to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System’s reporting for NSW, 123,947 flu cases have been reported across the state this year, out of 260,200 reports of respiratory disease (compared to 161,536 flu cases in 2024).
Both experts encouraged people to get their flu jab (if they haven’t already), but acknowledged uptake had been strong in the Territory and southern NSW.
“GP and pharmacy influenza [vaccination] rates were similar – very neck and neck – which is an increase from last year on the pharmacy level,” Mr Leighton said.
“Speaking to a lot of pharmacy colleagues around town and the area … they met their forecast, but a lot of those did actually go past those forecasts they were expecting.”
He said people were still testing themselves or visiting a doctor where they were being diagnosed and prescribed antivirals, which likely influenced the number of reported cases.
“Even for the common cold, we are seeing the RAT tests still being utilised and people are still testing, which is good. I guess it’s just to rule out [what someone doesn’t have],” he said.
Dr Hoffman said the ACT also had the best flu vaccine coverage in Australia, pointing to statistics collected by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.
However, Dr Hoffman encouraged NSW residents to get the jab, saying the state was below the average across all age groups.
An ACT Government spokesperson told Region that cases of respiratory illnesses had been decreasing over the past fortnight, which was in line with national trends.
“While influenza notifications have been higher this year compared to last year … there is no indication of more severe disease resulting from respiratory illness [such as] hospitalisations, deaths,” they said.
The spokesperson also said that outbreaks in residential aged care “have not been above” expected rates.
If Canberrans feel unwell, they are urged to visit their doctor or head to one of five nurse-led Walk-in Centres (open 7:30 am to 10 pm), which treat non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses.
Weston Creek hosts one of five clinics that Canberrans can visit without a doctor’s appointment. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park also encouraged people to use in-person and virtual healthcare services before visiting emergency departments.
During the week ending 24 August 2025, there were more than 900 ED presentations for influenza-like illness in NSW.
People can contact HealthDirect by calling 1800 022 222 to receive 24-hour health advice for non-life-threatening conditions.
