<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A deadly strain of influenza, H3N2, is quickly spreading and is expected to hit Australians hard this </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/winter" rel="" target="" title="winter"><span>winter</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>H3N2 is a subtype of flu that includes the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/super-k-flu-symptoms-contagious-period-recovery-time-everything-you-need-know-explained/304d115b-8953-42be-ba80-1ec4f3ae350c" rel="" target="" title="emerging Super K variant"><span>emerging Super K variant</span></a><span> and is most usually associated with severe seasonal epidemics, high hospitalisations and deaths.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seasons dominated by the strain across the world have been characterised by higher death rates.</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/risky-alcohol-consumption-australia-more-than-2-million-middle-aged-men-drinking-too-much/c75154cf-53ba-423e-b9b6-24f4efe3cd56" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Why millions of middle-aged Aussie men are driven to drink</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Centre for Disease Control has recorded more than 32,500 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu across the country so far this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It also found 75.6 per cent of flu viruses this season have been H3N2.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 20 per cent of those are adults over the age of 65 - the most vulnerable group to H3N2.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/h3n2-new-flu-strain-to-hit-australians/328251bf-46b6-4297-9add-1f426b6663ac" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Austin Health associate professor Michael Woodward said H3N2 seasons can be worse for older people as it can lead to hospitalisations and, in severe cases, death.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Flu is sometimes dismissed as a bad cold, but for older adults it can be much more serious," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If H3N2 continues to dominate this season, people aged 65 and over should speak with their GP, pharmacist or healthcare professional about how they can help reduce their risk."</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/kpmg-ceo-resigns-whistleblower-allegations/cf79691c-c96d-41fa-b8ed-d1c6ed0fddab" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Heads roll at 'big four' firm after whistleblower report</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Symptoms include high fever and chills, body aches, a dry and stubborn cough and headaches.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Woodward advised all Australians, particularly those who are older, to check if they are up to date with their vaccinations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not too late to discuss prevention," he said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Vaccination rates have declined across the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bupa found only about one-in-three Australians receive 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>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>