As winter settles across Australia, influenza remains one of the biggest seasonal health concerns for workplaces, healthcare facilities and businesses. While the 2026 flu season has started more slowly than last year’s record-breaking outbreak, infectious disease experts continue to warn that influenza is unpredictable, and cases can increase rapidly as winter progresses. The message is clear: now is the time to focus on prevention.
For businesses, preventing the spread of illness isn’t just about protecting employees, it’s also about maintaining productivity, reducing absenteeism and providing a safe environment for customers and visitors.
What Can We Expect From the 2026 Flu Season?
According to experts from the Doherty Institute, Australia’s 2025 flu season was one of the most severe on record, driven largely by an Influenza A (H3N2) strain that caused high infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths. Fortunately, 2026 has begun with lower influenza activity than the same period last year, but health experts caution that this should not lead to complacency. Influenza remains highly unpredictable, and seasonal peaks can occur quickly as temperatures continue to drop.
This year’s influenza vaccine has also been updated to better match the strains expected to circulate throughout the Australian winter. Vaccination continues to be the most effective way to reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and complications from the flu.
The Flu Is More Than “Just a Bad Cold”
Many people underestimate influenza, but it is a serious respiratory illness that can affect people of all ages.
Common symptoms include:
- High fever
- Chills and body aches
- Persistent cough
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Headaches
- Sore throat
While healthy adults often recover within a week or two, the flu can be particularly dangerous for older Australians, young children, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions.
In workplaces, even one infected employee can quickly spread the virus through shared spaces, frequently touched surfaces and close contact with colleagues.
Why Hygiene Plays Such an Important Role
Although vaccination is the best protection against severe influenza, everyday hygiene practices remain one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
Viruses can survive on frequently touched surfaces such as:
- Door handles
- Kitchen appliances
- Shared equipment
- Refrigerators
- Ice machines
- Breakroom surfaces
- Touch screens and switches
Without proper cleaning and sanitation, these high-contact areas can contribute to the spread of illness throughout a workplace.
Simple hygiene measures such as regular hand washing, surface disinfection, staying home when unwell and maintaining clean shared environments all work together to minimise transmission.
Why Preventative Maintenance Matters
For businesses operating in hospitality, healthcare, aged care, food processing and commercial facilities, preventative hygiene maintenance should form part of a broader health and safety strategy.
Over time, equipment such as refrigeration units, ice machines, coolrooms, split systems and kitchen exhaust systems can accumulate dirt, grease, moisture and microbial contamination. While these issues may not directly cause influenza, poorly maintained environments can contribute to reduced cleanliness and increase the risk of other harmful bacteria, mould and contaminants affecting indoor hygiene.
Routine preventative maintenance helps businesses:
- Maintain cleaner and healthier workplaces
- Reduce contamination risks
- Improve indoor air quality
- Extend equipment lifespan
- Improve energy efficiency
- Support food safety compliance
- Demonstrate a commitment to employee and customer wellbeing
How Jaymak Helps Businesses Stay Ahead
At Jaymak, we believe prevention is always better than reaction.
Our preventative hygiene services help businesses create cleaner, safer and healthier environments throughout the year—not just during flu season.
Our professional services include:
- Commercial kitchen hygiene
- Ice machine cleaning and sanitisation
- Coolroom and refrigeration cleaning
- Split system and HVAC hygiene
- Exhaust canopy cleaning
- Dishwasher and glasswasher hygiene
- Preventative maintenance programs
- Environmental hygiene solutions
Whether you operate a hospital, aged care facility, café, restaurant, food manufacturer or commercial workplace, maintaining hygienic equipment and facilities can play an important role in supporting the health of your staff and customers.
Prepare Your Business This Flu Season
Every winter presents new challenges, and while no one can predict exactly how the flu season will unfold, businesses can prepare by taking proactive steps today.
Encouraging staff vaccinations, reinforcing good hygiene practices and maintaining professionally cleaned equipment all contribute to a healthier workplace and help reduce unnecessary disruptions throughout the season.
At Jaymak, we’re committed to helping Australian businesses stay cleaner, safer and better prepared—because good hygiene isn’t seasonal, it’s essential all year round.
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