Flu cases spike with WA on cusp of worst ever July influenza season
The previous peak for flu cases in July was 15,796 in 2023.
Figures from the WA Health Department show more than 13,000 cases have been reported for the month so far, and experts expect numbers to surpass the last record.
AMA WA President Kyle Hoath said West Australians were enduring a tough winter.
"You've heard of the horror flu season thrown around and it really is what we are seeing, worse than it has been in a long time," Dr Hoath said.
"I would expect these numbers to increase over the next couple of weeks at least into the next month before we see any kind of relief from natural attrition.
Dr Hoath attributed the rise in cases to low vaccination rates.
"The vaccine uptake [is] at a record low," he said.
"Currently it's at 25 per cent but historically it would sit above 30 per cent.
"Low uptake is having an impact on these high influenza numbers."
In Queensland, four hospitals have paused elective surgeries, as an influx of illness puts pressure on the health system.
Dr Hoath said WA's health system was already "bursting at the seams".
"We don't really have the capacity to deal with these increased incidents of things like influenza, RSV and COVID."
"With what's happening in Queensland we are trying to keep our finger on the pulse over here and keep an eye on what's happening in our backyard and try to stay a step ahead."
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases, a virus which can cause severe illness in infants, were also higher than usual.
"RSV is also on a significant upward trend we've had another 500 cases in the last week and it's the leading cause of hospitalisation in infants," Dr Hoath said.
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