Influenza Statistics
Get the latest Australian influenza figures, sourced from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)
Influenza Activity Surveillance & Graph 2026
Click on the icon for a graph of statistics.
This report provides a summary of influenza surveillance data collected from around Australia and New Zealand. Regional reporting in some areas ceases when influenza activity is low (out of season). Please note that many people do not get tested for influenza and that there may also be some delays in reporting confirmed influenza cases.
Therefore data presented here may be underestimating influenza activity.
National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)
Update for 17 August 2026
It is important to note that data reported from the various influenza surveillance systems may not represent an accurate reflection of influenza activity. There may be some delays in the reporting systems. Also, many who become unwell with influenza-like symptoms do not present to their doctor and are not tested for influenza.
Results should be interpreted with caution.
National notification data (NNDSS):
There have been 82,710 notifications of laboratory confirmed influenza reported to the NNDSS in the year to 17 August 2026.
| ACT | 1,118 |
| NSW | 43,108 |
| NT | 757 |
| QLD | 15,502 |
| SA | 3,459 |
| TAS | 584 |
| VIC | 11,563 |
| WA | 6,619 |
Total notifications from each state and territory are as follows:
For more national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)
Australian Influenza Surveillance Report
https://nindss.health.gov.au/pbi-dashboard
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National Vaccination Coverage Rates
Influenza vaccination is recommended for all Australians aged 6 months and older. Flu vaccination reporting to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is mandatory allowing coverage rates to be monitored.
For more information visit NCIRS here
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Australian Capital Territory
Reporting period Friday 31 July 2026 to Thursday 06 August 2026 inclusive.
Total influenza cases:
- Current reporting period: 158
- 2026 total: 788
- Rate per 100,000 for reporting period: 32.5
For more information:
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New South Wales
Week ending 1 August 2026
Influenza activity remained at a moderate level of activity.
Summary:
- Influenza is at a moderate level of activity.
- In the past week there was an increase of 24.2% in influenza notifications.
- For more information: NSW Health – Respiratory Surveillance Reports
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Queensland
3 August 2026
- 41 people were in hospital with Influenza, 22 (54%) were aged 65 years or more.
- 892 people diagnosed in the last week, 122 (14%) were aged 65 years or more.
For more information: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/diseases-infection/surveillance/reports/flu
QLD Health – Notifiable Diseases
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South Australia
Update for the week ending at 1 August 2026:
Count of influenza notifications in the week ending 1 August 2026: 220
For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch
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Tasmania
Week ending 2 August 2026
Summary
- Influenza activity remains lower than expected at this time of year but has increased in recent weeks.
Influenza notifications for week ending 2 August: 31
2026 YTD influenza notifications: 560
For more information: https://www.health.tas.gov.au/publications/respiratory-surveillance-report
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Victoria
6 July 2026
Victoria, local public health areas and local government areas surveillance summary report
Total influenza cases (YTD): 10,211
For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory or Victorian State Health Department
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Western Australia
Week ending 2 August 2026
Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary:
- Influenza notifications in the past week decreased marginally to 491 cases and, remained in the low-range of values usually reported this time of year.
- In the year to date, influenza notifications, hospitalisations and deaths* were lower compared to the previous five-year average. One third of notifications were in those aged less than 15 years.
- In the past week, the seven-day moving average for influenza notification rates decreased or remained stable across most WA health regions
- Influenza-related hospitalisations have generally increased over recent weeks with a slight decline observed in children during the past week
- Influenza PCR test positivity at PathWest increased marginally to 5.0% in the past week
- PathWest reported 61 influenza detections in the past week, comprising nine A/H1, forty-nine A/H3, and three influenza B. These detections accounted for 12% of statewide influenza notifications.
For more information: WA Virus WAtch
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FluTracking and New Zealand
FluTracking
FluTracking is an online health surveillance system which aims to detect epidemics of influenza. It is a joint initiative of The University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Area Health Service (NSW Health) and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Participation is voluntary and involves the completion of a weekly online survey during the influenza season. Data are collected on basic demographics, symptoms of ILI and absenteeism.
Reporting week Monday 27 July 2026 – Sunday 02 August 2026
(Data used in this report received up to 09:00 AM, Thursday 06 August 2026)
Summary:
- Respiratory illness levels have increased this week
- 45,068 participants this week
Respiratory illness activity* (age standardised):
*Respiratory illness activity is defined as fever & cough for this report
1.6% this week and 1.2% last week
Respiratory illness activity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants:
1.3% this week and 1.2% last week
Respiratory illness severity:
Sought medical advice for fever and cough symptoms: 33.3% (137/411) this report* compared to 31.7% last report
*Includes those who sought medical advice from a general practitioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health clinic, COVID-19 clinic, emergency department, or were admitted to hospital for fever and cough.
Flu Tracking: For more information, or to enroll: Flu Tracking
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New Zealand
2 August 2026
Summary
The national rate for ILI-related Healthline calls has increased in the week ending 2 August and is similar to this time in 2024. The weekly ILI-related Healthline call rates were highest for Te Waipounamu region. Please also note that FluTracking is not operating in New Zealand in 2026.
Three respiratory illness outbreaks were reported in the week ending 2 August 2026. Two were at aged residential care facilities and had influenza detected (one in Southern and one in Capital, Coast and Hutt). One outbreak was at a childcare centre and had RSV detected (Bay of Plenty).
The weekly all-cause hospitalisation rate for SARI in the Auckland region decreased for the third week in a row in the week ending 2 August and is now in the low activity band. The rate is similar to this time in 2023, 2025, and the 2015-2019 average, and lower than this time in 2024. Influenza and RSV were most commonly detected viruses in the week ending 2 August.
The influenza-positive SARI hospitalisation rate has increased and is in the low seasonal activity band. Both influenza A/H1 and A/H3 have been detected in GP ILI and SARI surveillance in recent weeks.
The SARS-CoV-2-positive SARI hospitalisation rate remains low and stable.This does not necessarily reflect the trend in all COVID-19 related hospital admissions monitored by Health New Zealand, as different definitions for admission are used. PHF Science’s wastewater dashboard a decreasing trend in community SARS-CoV-2 detections over July 2026. Among variants, NB. 1.8.1 is the predominant strain (wastewater variant analysis = 31.4% for week ending 12 July).
Note that the results presented are based on data available as at 6 August 2026 (wastewater dashboard last updated 30 July 2026). These may be updated as more data become available and should be regarded as provisional.