<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>South Australia is in the midst of one of the state's worst flu seasons, with cases soaring and the healthcare system under strain. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The total number of influenza cases this year has reached 10,569 – a 70 per cent increase compared to the same time in 2024. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The curve is going up, up, up like this and there's no sign that it's plateauing or going to be going down at this stage so there's a lot of flu out there," Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said.</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><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/western-australia-kalgoorlie-boulder-stinky-town-notices-an-improvement-after-adding-lime-to-source-of-odour/9aaedbe6-66a5-46a6-86f2-3521881903c7"><strong><span>Stinky town notices an improvement after expert sniffs out source of odour</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's led to more than 1042 hospital presentations, including 148 children under the age of five.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The outbreak is also affecting healthcare workers, with significant numbers falling ill. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's very difficult when you're trying to run a hospital when you have your staff sick," Spurrier said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/flu-surge-south-australia/a602de33-7a60-4710-80a9-d0ca022522b1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The situation has been described as a "perfect storm" for a healthcare system already facing challenges. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-customers-to-recieve-personal-information-about-data-stolen-in-cyber-attack/b62d3b0b-52aa-4a7d-86fb-6a584bacdd45"><strong><span>The email six million Australians should expect from Qantas</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite government investment in the sector, concerns have been raised about the system's capacity to cope with the increased demand. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Things are going backwards and it's South Australian patients who are paying the price on this," opposition spokesperson Ashton Hurn said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Health Minister Chris Picton responded that the government "will continue to throw everything at this", with vaccination a key tool in its belt.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government has extended its free influenza vaccine program, allowing children under five to receive their jabs at pharmacies. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>