Sixteen elderly people have died from the flu in Canberra nursing homes in the past three months, a 30 per cent increase on last year's figures.
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Two separate aged care facilities recorded four deaths each from the flu since July 1.
According to statistics from ACT Health, in the three months from July 1 to October 3, there were 14 outbreaks, with 258 residents and 72 staff affected.
Deaths were recorded in eight of the 14 outbreaks. There were 24 hospitalisations.
An outbreak is defined as three or more cases within three days, of influenza-like illness reported in aged care facilities in the ACT.
In 2016, there were 16 outbreaks notified between July 1 and September 15 which affected 272 residents and almost 100 staff. There were 35 hospitalisations and 12 deaths.
ACT Health noted not all people had been tested for the flu, but had reported having flu-like symptoms.
Across the entire ACT population there were 2823 cases of the flu notified from January 1 to October 3 this year, compared with 1491 in the same period in 2016.
A Canberra mother died after contracting influenza, in what has been described as one of the worst seasons of the flu in 15 years.
ACT chief health officer Paul Kelly said despite there being a 33 per cent increase in nursing home resident deaths from the flu between 2016 and 2017, due to the overall impact on the community there was not a proportionately significant difference.
"Any report of deaths in our community from communicable diseases, such as influenza, are regrettable and a reminder that influenza can affect anyone in our community," Dr Kelly said.
"In particular though, influenza can spread widely and rapidly in aged care facilities due to the highly infectious nature of the virus, the close contact of residents and that those aged 65-plus are a high risk group for serious flu complications."
He said the Health Protection Service conducted several annual preparedness activities with aged care facilities prior to influenza season to help minimise the impact.
Dr Kelly said in context, there was two-and-a-half times the average number of flu cases reported in 2017 than in the same period five years ago, and three-and-a-half times the number of that in the 65 and over age group.
ACT Council on the Ageing chief executive Jenny Mobbs said it was an important reminder to the community to use common sense in sensitive areas like aged care facilities.
"While it is indeed sad that older people have died in aged care in Canberra from the effect of flu, vaccination alone will not prevent the spread of infectious diseases," Ms Mobbs said.
"Common sense regarding our health plays a part and, in the context of a close community environment such as a residential aged care facility, the most important thing is to stay away from a facility if you are unwell – something that applies to families, visitors, staff, and indeed anyone coming into contact with older Australians particularly vulnerable to the spread of infection."
"Given that the influenza virus survives on door handles for almost two days, the issue may be bigger than just immunising aged care workers but it makes a lot of sense to ensure that vaccination programs are in place for all who live in aged care facilities," Ms Mobbs said.
