Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District public health director Curtis Gregory said after a slow start to the 2015 season, things were starting to “speed up”.

According to the NSW Health Influenza Surveillance Report, there were 113 confirmed flu notifications in the region for the week ending August 23 – a rate of 28.3 per 100,000 population.

That compares to just 43 flu notifications across the four weeks before that, which represented a rate of 10.77 per 100,000.

The report also listed the Illawarra Shoalhaven as one of five NSW health districts where emergency department presentations for flu-like illnesses were ‘‘particularly elevated’’ for the week in question.

‘‘There’s been a significant jump in numbers in the region, showing our flu season has really started,’’ Mr Gregory said.

‘‘There’s been an increase in lab notifications as well as emergency department presentations for flu-like illnesses which are seven times above average.

‘‘Type B influenza remains the dominant strain and the normal demographics – the elderly and the infirm – are the most affected.’’

Mr Gregory said despite the spike in figures there had not been ‘‘clusters’’ or ‘‘outbreaks’’ in residential and aged care facilities as in previous years.

‘‘The [health district] has been putting a fair bit of effort into education and awareness at these facilities so hopefully the measures that have been implemented are having an effect,’’ he said.

Mr Gregory said while the flu season had reached its peak in the region, and across NSW, he expected to see heightened activity for the next four weeks.

‘‘So we are still encouraging people – especially the elderly, those with compromised immune systems and pregnant women in their third trimester – to get vaccinated,’’ he said.

‘‘As well people should continue to practise good hygiene – to wash their hands regularly, cover their nose and mouth while sneezing and to stay home if they are sick.’’

According to the NSW Health report, flu activity will continue to increase this week across the state and the nation.

Meantime healthdirect, the government-funded 24/7 helpline, has also been inundated – with a 25 per cent increase in calls about flu-like symptoms compared to the corresponding time last year.

“What we know about the flu is that people cannot afford to become too complacent. The weather is warming up, but viruses are still very active,” said healthdirect spokeswoman Maureen Robinson.

‘‘If people are experiencing flu-like symptoms we encourage them to call the healthdirect helpline on 18000 222 22 to speak to a registered nurse for free information and advice.’’