Australia experiences worst flu season on record

The 2019 flu season was Australia's worst in recorded history, data has confirmed. "In terms of sheer numbers and the load on general practice and emergency departments, this is the worst flu season that's ever been," Paul van Buynder, an immunization expert from Griffith University, told News Corp Australia.

According to the local media report, there had been 587 deaths from the flu, the vast majority of which were of elderly people. By comparison, there were only 73 deaths from the flu in 2018.

Australia's authorities were caught by surprise when the 2019 season started early. In Canberra, Australia's capital city, the 3,402 confirmed cases of influenza so far in 2019 is more than the number of cases in 2016, 2017 and 2018 combined.

The flu season in the United States begins in October.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201909/05/WS5d70a52da310cf3e35569e87.html