There’s been a late rise of influenza A, mostly due to the ‘super K’ strain.
Articles on Flu
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Keeping children home from school if they have COVID-19 protects family and school community members at high risk of serious illness.
The world’s pandemic early-warning system is weakest in places affected by armed conflict, where the risk of outbreaks is often greatest.
The most common active ingredient in cold and flu tablets has been shown to have almost no effect. So why do some people feel these tablets help?
Hantavirus cruise ship passengers have left Perth quarantine. But how might quarantine affect them? History has some answers.
In the second half of 2025 influenza killed more Australians a month than COVID. Here’s how it happened.
Two experts answer five common questions about the flu vaccine, with the evidence.
Is it the flu, COVID or something else? That old rapid antigen test sitting in your cupboard may tell you. But this is what you need to know.
Everything you need to know about the flu vaccine, including the nasal spray, egg-free options, who it’s free for and what to do if you’re scared of needles.
There has already been a lot of flu this year but the flu season is unlikely to peak until late winter.
A fear of needles can stop many children from getting a flu vaccine. But a new nasal spray will be available in 2026. Is your kid eligible?
The body actually automatically switches its dominant nostril as often as every two hours.
Despite days in close quarters with flu patients, healthy volunteers didn’t get sick – revealing insights into transmission.
From dry air to indoor crowding, winter creates the perfect conditions for respiratory viruses to thrive.
A particularly infectious subvariant of influenza is keeping emergency room numbers high and causing especially severe illness in children.
The 2025-26 ‘super’ flu can come with vomiting and diarrhea, alongside the more typical aches and pains of flu.
Subclade K flu might be behind the higher number of cases, but it doesn’t seem to have worse symptoms.
This year’s flu season started early and is expected to be severe. Here’s what you need to know about getting vaccinated, from timing and side-effects to how well it works.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast to hear flu expert Ian Barr describe how the global system works to choose the strains of flu to vaccinate against each year.
Flu season has started a month earlier than last year.
Top contributors
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Professor of Infectious Diseases, Monash University
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Professor of Nursing, Purdue University
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Paediatrician, Infectious Diseases Physician and Clinical Microbiologist, The Kids Research Institute Australia, The University of Western Australia
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Adjunct Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine
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Professor of Global Biosecurity, NHMRC L3 Research Fellow, Head, Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW
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Deputy Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza
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Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles
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Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor: Innovation and Knowledge Exchange, University of Nottingham
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Professor Emerita, Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University
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Professor Emerita of Biology, Indiana University
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Medical Epidemiologist at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases and Lecturer at the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand
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David King is a Friend of The Conversation.
Senior Lecturer in General Practice, The University of Queensland
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Virologist, The University of Queensland
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Honorary Associate Professor
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Research Fellow, American University School of Public Affairs