A new report by CSIRO says a fast-spreading influenza strain, nicknamed the “Super-K” flu, is emerging earlier than expected and spreading rapidly across Australia.
CSIRO disease prevention and detection expert Dr Daniel Layton said subclade K is spreading earlier than is typical for seasonal influenza, which is a cause for concern.
“While this is still a seasonal flu strain, it has changed significantly in one of its key proteins,” Dr Layton said. “These changes can affect how easily the virus spreads and how well our immune system recognises it.”
CSIRO said early data suggests the current flu vaccine may be less effective at preventing infection from subclade K due to a mismatch between the vaccine and the mutated virus. However, vaccination is still expected to reduce the severity of illness.
“The flu vaccine works by producing antibodies that block the virus from entering our cells,” Dr Layton said. “Because this strain has changed, those antibodies may not bind as well, but the vaccine can still help prevent severe disease.”
According to CSIRO, flu seasons dominated by H3N2 strains have historically been associated with higher hospitalisation rates, particularly among older people and those with underlying health conditions. However, there is currently no evidence that subclade K causes more severe illness in individual cases.
CSIRO said people who received a flu vaccine in 2025 are not generally advised to get an additional dose at this time, as protection is strongest in the first three to four months after vaccination. A new seasonal flu vaccine is expected to become available in Australia in the coming months.
Those in high-risk groups who missed last year’s flu shot may still benefit from vaccination and should speak with their GP, CSIRO advised.
Looking ahead, CSIRO said continued monitoring will determine whether future flu vaccines need to be updated to include subclade K. Decisions on vaccine composition are made using global surveillance data and expert analysis.
CSIRO also reminded the public that flu symptoms typically come on suddenly and include fever or chills, body aches, headache, extreme tiredness, and cough or sore throat. Anyone experiencing worsening symptoms or at higher risk of complications is advised to seek medical advice.
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