Mary Wilson
Well-known member
Publication date: 13 September 2024
Date last updated: 16 September 2024
Key messages
This report presents a national epidemiological update for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),
influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with a focus on the current reporting period (26
August to 8 September 2024) and earlier severity reporting periods (up to 25 August 2024).
Activity: In recent weeks, respiratory illness activity (self-reported new fever and cough
symptoms) in the community has decreased and is currently lower than the levels of activity
observed in the same period in previous years. General practice consultation rates for
respiratory illnesses (new fever and cough symptoms) monitored through sentinel surveillance
sites have decreased in the last fortnight but remain slightly higher than consultation rates
observed in previous years. Nationally, COVID-19 activity has been decreasing since early
June 2024, and RSV activity has been decreasing since late May 2024, except in Western
Australia, which experienced a later peak in RSV notifications compared to other regions.
Influenza activity also appears to be decreasing, but inconsistently across jurisdictions.
Severity: The number of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and influenza monitored through
sentinel hospital-based surveillance has been decreasing since reaching apparent peaks in
May 2024 and July 2024, respectively. The proportion of those patients with a severe acute
respiratory infection (SARI) who were admitted directly to an intensive care, monitored through
sentinel hospital-based surveillance, has remained low and stable in 2024. Nationally, the
number of patients admitted to sentinel intensive care surveillance sites with COVID-19,
influenza, and RSV has been decreasing in recent weeks. Patients with COVID-19 have
accounted for half of all SARI admissions at sentinel intensive care surveillance sites this year.
At-risk populations: For patients admitted with a SARI to sentinel intensive care sites, the
largest proportion of in-hospital mortality has been in those aged 60 years or over. Nationally,
this year, age-specific mortality rates for COVID-19, influenza and RSV cases have been
highest among those aged 70 years or over.
Impact: The proportion of people taking time off work due to respiratory illness (self-reported
new fever and cough symptoms) decreased last fortnight, compared with the previous fortnight.
Nationally, the mean number of COVID-19 cases in intensive care this fortnight decreased
compared with the previous fortnight. Similarly, the average number of intensive care staff
unavailable due to COVID-19 illness or exposure has declined over the past two weeks.
Genomic surveillance and virology: Nationally, the Omicron BA.2.86 sublineage, JN.1,
remains the dominant circulating sub-lineage (which includes the KP, JN.1.17, and JN.1.8 sub-
sub-lineages). The KP.3 sub-sub-lineage represents the most common JN.1 sub-lineage in
AusTrakka, followed KP.2, JN.1.18 and JN.1.7. This year, influenza A has accounted for most
influenza notifications nationally.
Vaccine coverage, effectiveness and match: It is too early to assess influenza vaccine
effectiveness for the 2024 influenza season. COVID-19 and RSV vaccination data will be
included in future iterations of the Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report.
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/def...report-12-26-august-to-8-september-2024_0.pdf
Date last updated: 16 September 2024
Key messages
This report presents a national epidemiological update for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),
influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with a focus on the current reporting period (26
August to 8 September 2024) and earlier severity reporting periods (up to 25 August 2024).
Activity: In recent weeks, respiratory illness activity (self-reported new fever and cough
symptoms) in the community has decreased and is currently lower than the levels of activity
observed in the same period in previous years. General practice consultation rates for
respiratory illnesses (new fever and cough symptoms) monitored through sentinel surveillance
sites have decreased in the last fortnight but remain slightly higher than consultation rates
observed in previous years. Nationally, COVID-19 activity has been decreasing since early
June 2024, and RSV activity has been decreasing since late May 2024, except in Western
Australia, which experienced a later peak in RSV notifications compared to other regions.
Influenza activity also appears to be decreasing, but inconsistently across jurisdictions.
Severity: The number of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and influenza monitored through
sentinel hospital-based surveillance has been decreasing since reaching apparent peaks in
May 2024 and July 2024, respectively. The proportion of those patients with a severe acute
respiratory infection (SARI) who were admitted directly to an intensive care, monitored through
sentinel hospital-based surveillance, has remained low and stable in 2024. Nationally, the
number of patients admitted to sentinel intensive care surveillance sites with COVID-19,
influenza, and RSV has been decreasing in recent weeks. Patients with COVID-19 have
accounted for half of all SARI admissions at sentinel intensive care surveillance sites this year.
At-risk populations: For patients admitted with a SARI to sentinel intensive care sites, the
largest proportion of in-hospital mortality has been in those aged 60 years or over. Nationally,
this year, age-specific mortality rates for COVID-19, influenza and RSV cases have been
highest among those aged 70 years or over.
Impact: The proportion of people taking time off work due to respiratory illness (self-reported
new fever and cough symptoms) decreased last fortnight, compared with the previous fortnight.
Nationally, the mean number of COVID-19 cases in intensive care this fortnight decreased
compared with the previous fortnight. Similarly, the average number of intensive care staff
unavailable due to COVID-19 illness or exposure has declined over the past two weeks.
Genomic surveillance and virology: Nationally, the Omicron BA.2.86 sublineage, JN.1,
remains the dominant circulating sub-lineage (which includes the KP, JN.1.17, and JN.1.8 sub-
sub-lineages). The KP.3 sub-sub-lineage represents the most common JN.1 sub-lineage in
AusTrakka, followed KP.2, JN.1.18 and JN.1.7. This year, influenza A has accounted for most
influenza notifications nationally.
Vaccine coverage, effectiveness and match: It is too early to assess influenza vaccine
effectiveness for the 2024 influenza season. COVID-19 and RSV vaccination data will be
included in future iterations of the Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report.
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/def...report-12-26-august-to-8-september-2024_0.pdf