Flu hits record number of Australian patients as doctors urge taking advantage of free vaccine

Record numbers of Australians have been diagnosed with the flu this winter, prompting health authorities to renew warnings about vaccination.

Health Minister Sussan Ley said the latest figures showed more than 14,000 flu cases have been reported so far this year in Australia.

That compares to 9,258 cases at the same time last year.

Australia's chief medical officer Professor Chris Baggoley said people at risk — such as those aged over 65, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pregnant women and anyone with a chronic condition — should take advantage of the free vaccine.

"People who had the flu vaccine in 2014 need to have it in 2015, particularly this year, following a rare double strain change in the vaccine," Professor Baggoley said.

Influenza is highly contagious, spreading easily from person to person, through the air and on hands.

"We need higher uptake [of the vaccine] in vulnerable groups. Immunisation is still the best form of protection from influenza," Professor Baggoley said.

How many cases of the flu are there where you live?

Source: NNDSS, extracted 6 July 2015