Murrumbidgee local health district public health director Tracey Oakman said in the past two weeks they had received notification of 35 diagnoses, compared to 25 in the whole of June.

She said the flu season was expected to peak in in about four weeks.

“Realistically we’re expecting hundreds in August, last year we had 289 notifications in August and 520 in September,” she said.

Victoria has seen an 81 per cent increase of flu cases compared to last year.

Ms Oakman said people with the flu should stay home, wash their hands frequently and avoid aged care and hospital facilities.

“It does need to be taken seriously,” she said.

“3000 people a year die from the flu.”