Australia's health minister urges citizens to get flu vaccine as near-epidemic strikes

Australia is experiencing a record number of influenza cases, prompting the health minister, Sussan Ley, to issue a strong warning to citizens to get vaccinated.

The 2015 strain of influenza is a rare "double strain" and Ley urged the public on Wednesday to get their flu shots or risk being infected by the highly-contagious virus.

"With most people usually taking up to three weeks to develop immunity following their flu shot now is the time to get your flu jab," the health minister said.

"The message is simple -- get your flu shot before the flu gets you this winter."

So far in 2015, there have been more than 14,000 reported cases, more than 100 percent higher than the five-year average for this time of year.

The high number compares to just 9,200 cases at the same time in 2014.

Australia's chief medical officer has urged those most vulnerable -- notably the elderly, pregnant women and those with a chronic condition -- to get the shot, otherwise they risk contracting the deadly virus.

Professor Chris Baggoley said that this year's strain was more dangerous, and potentially more deadly that those seen in recent years.

News Corp reported on Tuesday that that 43 percent of tested Australian flu cases were influenza A (H3N2), the so-called ' killer flu' that struck the United States last year.

"People who had the flu vaccine in 2014 need to have it in 2015, particularly this year, following a rare double strain change in the vaccine," Baggoley said on Wednesday.

"We need higher uptake [of the vaccine] in vulnerable groups. Immunization is still the best form of protection from influenza."

In rare cases, patients can develop complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis, resulting in hospitalization and even death.

Typical complications that arise from the highly contagious virus kill as many as 3,000 Australians every year. Endi