Hospitalisations for respiratory illnesses remain high

The Science Media Centre says more people are being hospitalised with influenza symptoms, this winter, than between 2014 and 2019.

It also shows Healthline's receiving a higher number of calls with those complaints.

Department of Public Health at University of Otago, Professor Michael Baker, says influenza is in a class of its own

He says it's particularly severe, people should never say they've 'just got the flu' as that's referencing what can be a deadly illness.