Vaccination best way to deal with flu

Health authorities are urging Queenslanders to have a flu vaccination with more than 10,000 people already hit by the illness.

Flu season started on Tuesday and more people have fallen sick than last year, communicable disease director Dr Sonya Bennett said.

"Vaccination is the best chance to protect yourself and the people around you from contracting the flu," Dr Bennett said.

This year's flu season has starting earlier than usual and has already caused 1324 Queenslanders to be hospitalised.

Of those, 126 ended up in intensive care.

Flu can be a severe illness and in some cases can become fatal, Dr Bennett warned.

"Stay home when you're sick, cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing and wash your hands regularly," she said.