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HEALTH WATCH

Uncommon rise of RSV

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The most common respiratory virus now circulating in the community is RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

More than 100,000 cases of RSV have already been recorded in Australia this year, far outnumbering both influenza and COVID-19. This is the first time RSV has dominated mid-year infectious respiratory disease notifications since becoming nationally reportable in 2021.

With about 890 confirmed notifications of RSV each day since the start of winter, Australia is on track to record more than 127,000 cases of this unpredictable virus by the end of the season.

Infants, expectant mothers, adults aged 75 years and over, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60 years and over can now receive free RSV immunisation throughout Australia.

RSV notifications to date in 20261

National Notification Disease Surveillance System data at 13 July 2026.

RSV Vaccination Uptake in Older Adults2

RSV vs influenza vaccination uptake among RSV-eligible older adults, 2026

RSV-eligible older adults: All aged 75 years and older, plus Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60-74 years.

720,000+

eligible older adults protected against RSV in Australia this year.

Data sources

  1. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System public dashboard. wJuly 2026.
  2. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Australian Immunisation Register, Respiratory Vaccine Dashboard. July 2026.
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