<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At least 60 people have potentially died from the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/super-k-flu-mutated-influenza-a-lower-vaccine-effectiveness-could-see-another-horror-influenza-season/476ec606-718e-4b60-a464-df4ae380d26f" rel="" target="_blank" title="deadly Super-K flu strain"><span>deadly Super-K flu strain</span></a><span> so far this year, with doctors warning the figures will only rise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The new and highly mutated strain of influenza A (H3N2), dubbed 'Super-K', was first detected in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="United States"><span>United States</span></a><span> in June and led to the deaths of dozens of children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now, the highly contagious strain has been confirmed in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span>. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/april-one-financial-changes-australia-2026-private-health-insurance-energy-rebate-mortgage-rate-explained/144c4981-2270-48be-8661-bc6ef8b33ec4" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Aussie households set for triple-whammy bill price hike next month</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 22,000 flu cases have been reported in Australia so far this year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And 63 deaths were recorded in January - roughly double the typical figures for the month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mater Director of Infectious Diseases Paul Griffin believes the Super-K strain has caused the unusually high number of deaths.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/super-k-flu-strain-warning-as-60-people-potentially-killed/07640e93-a442-44e8-b4c8-d416240e2f16" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is largely due to the Super-K variant, which is easily transmitted, and also due to low vaccination rates," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This year's flu vaccinations have been updated to combat the new variant ahead of the flu season, which typically starts in April.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But fewer people are getting their shots. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-fines-for-dodgy-petrol-pricing-doubled-as-fuel-crisis-continues/f34aa351-537d-424e-9f44-cbfbba0f5e17" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Fines for dodgy petrol pricing doubled as fuel crisis continues</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Only about one in three Australians are receiving their flu shots, compared to more than half before the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those most at risk of flu hospitalisations and deaths include the elderly, children, pregnant women and immunocompromised people. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Only 25 per cent of children under five received a flu shot and 60.5 per cent of people over 65 were vaccinated last year - the lowest number in six years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Low vaccination rates have contributed to the deadliest flu season in a decade after 1701 people died from influenza last year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That was about 400 more deaths than the national road toll.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-march-27-what-happened-on-this-day-clive-wearing/056a20e2-031c-4431-b2e0-a14d8d34e601" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Illness began with headache, then left musician with a 20-second memory</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Griffin urged people to get their flu, COVID and RSV vaccines ahead of the flu season as it typically takes about two weeks for them to kick in.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Flu is a major public health threat, and everyone should have the annual vaccine, especially those who are most vulnerable and need the added protection it brings," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This year, we need to do better and get as many people vaccinated as possible, before more lives are lost unnecessarily."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>