Auckland has its worst week for flu-related hospitalisations in 10 years
Auckland is experiencing its highest rate of flu-related hospitalizations in a decade, driven by a combination of influenza, RSV, and rhinovirus. Health officials note that while the severity of individual cases is typical, the high volume of patients is placing significant strain on the local healthcare system.
Why it matters
This surge highlights the ongoing vulnerability of public health infrastructure to seasonal respiratory illness spikes and the potential for systemic overload.
Auckland has had its worst week for flu hospitalisations in a decade.
There were 177 people admitted to four Auckland hospitals with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) from the 9 August to 16 August, up from 125 patients the week before.
PHF Science said the past weeks hospitalisation rate is the highest weekly hospitalisation rate for Tāmaki Makaurau since 2015.
Dr Hannah Cooper, a public health physician in the health intelligence team at PHF Science, said while it was not a worse flu than usual, there was more of it around.
"Last Thursday there'd been a real sort of spike in activity, but it was still kind of within the sort of normal range for the peak of a season.
"This week it really has increased further.
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