Auckland's worst week for flu-related hospital admissions in 10 years
Auckland hospitals have recorded their highest number of flu-related admissions in a decade, with 177 patients admitted in a single week. Health officials note that the surge is compounded by the presence of other respiratory illnesses like RSV and COVID-19.
Why it matters
The spike in respiratory illnesses is placing significant strain on the public health system, highlighting the ongoing challenges of winter health management.
Auckland has had its worst week for flu hospital admissions in a decade. There were 177 people admitted to four Auckland hospitals with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) from August 9-16, up from 125 patients the week before. PHF Science said the past weeks hospitalisation rate is the highest weekly admission 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 <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/17/flu-season-could-stretch-into-spring-as-late-surge-hits-schools/">more of it around</a>. "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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