If you feel like everyone around you is getting sick, you're probably right.
“We're not seeing any particularly exceptional years in terms of flu or RSV alone,” says Paul Griffin, MD, an infectious disease physician and clinical microbiologist.
“What we’re experiencing, which is maybe a little bit different, is that we have a lot of things circulating simultaneously at relatively high levels.
“This is a very important matter for us and it is increasing the burden on our health care system.”
Here's a brief overview of some of the most common illnesses in our communities, and how you can stay safe this winter.
RSV cases have already surpassed 2022 annual total
More than 100,000 cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have already been reported in Australia, according to the Department of Health's National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
That's already more than 2022's annual total of 95,949 — and we're only halfway through the year.
Dr. Griffin says it is likely that in 2024 this number will surpass last year's number.
“We're still seeing RSV in significant numbers,” he told ABC News.
“The big difference this year is that we have vaccines and antibodies to protect the most vulnerable.
“But it is too early to see any significant differences as a result of these interventions.”
“So I think these numbers are likely to increase.”
Covid-19 statistics are now 'meaningless'
While it may seem like the number of COVID-19 cases has reduced significantly, this is because it is no longer mandatory to report a positive RAT result.
“The number of COVID cases is almost meaningless now because we know so few people are getting tested,” Dr. Griffin said.
“We know rapid antigen tests are probably still happening, but we don’t record those results.
“It’s likely that our actual cases are many times higher than the reported number, possibly five or ten times higher.”
Dr. Griffin says the level of hospitalizations is one way to track the severity of COVID-19 in the community.
The health department reports a seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 hospitalizations.
On June 12, 81 cases were hospitalized, however, the data is delayed by two weeks.
Influenza cases are at par with the last two years
According to the NNDSS, more than 100,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza have been recorded in Australia this year.
Flu cases hit record lows in 2021 while pandemic restrictions — such as social distancing and mask wearing — were in place.
“It's really hard to know why we have such a high rate of infection,” Dr. Griffin told ABC News.
“We know it fluctuates from year to year and some of these things will fluctuate from year to year and every five years.
“What we did for COVID also broke our old patterns.
“Because of our interventions to reduce the spread of COVID, we saw extraordinarily low levels of all of these respiratory infections for about a year and a half to two years.”
“It's really hard to know how that changes the patterns that we've seen after.”
Whooping cough returning to pre-pandemic levels
During the Covid-19 pandemic, cases of flu as well as whooping cough decreased significantly.
But with more than 10,000 pertussis cases already recorded, this year's figures are almost five times higher than the annual total for 2023.
“I think all of the good work that we did during COVID is probably at the lowest point we’ve seen in a long time because of everybody’s fatigue and frustration in being vigilant about reducing the transmission of all of these things,” says Dr. Griffin.
“This isn’t a major lockdown or border restrictions – it’s as simple as keeping your hands clean and staying home when you’re sick.
“All of these things have caused rates to drop and this will certainly be a factor.”
How to avoid getting sick (or infecting others) this winter?
Dr. Griffin recommends that “stay home if you’re unwelland especially stay away from weak people,
hand hygiene And cough and sneeze etiquette are also “really important and effective”, air quality and ventilation,
,Wearing a mask “That makes a difference, too,” says Dr. Griffin.
“And, I’m not saying we have a blanket mandate, but we know that if worn correctly they do help, and certainly vaccination,
“Right now our flu vaccine rates are the worst they’ve been in quite a while.
“We’ve seen pertussis come back, partly because of low vaccination rates, so we need to remind people of the importance of it.”
Dr Griffin says vulnerable people need to make sure they India has got a boost in the fight against Covid-19.
“I think there hasn’t been enough messaging about the importance of getting vaccinated.”