Seven dead after flu outbreak in Victoria retirement home

The residents, aged between 70 to 94, died at Wangaratta's St John's Retirement Village. Photo / Google Maps

Seven people are dead and the toll could grow after an influenza outbreak swept through a regional Victorian aged care home.

The residents, aged between 70 to 94, died at Wangaratta's St John's Retirement Village in the fortnight up to Wednesday.

"There is another resident unfortunately who is very unwell so another death may be expected," Victorian chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton told reporters on Friday, after revealing news of the deaths.

The severity of the 2017 flu outbreak is the worst the health chief has seen in the past seven years.

"We are at the peak of one of the worst flu seasons ever and the elderly are one of highest-risk groups," he said.

The residents who died had other medical conditions that made them particularly susceptible, Dr Sutton said.

Another 123 people - residents and staff - at the retirement village have been sick with the flu.

The federal government, which is in charge of aged care, has also been informed of the deadly outbreak in Victoria.

In 2017, there have been more than 11,300 confirmed cases of influenza in Victoria, with 60 deaths reported across the state in the past few months.

About 800 people die of the flu each year in Victoria, according to the health department. Aged care staff should have a 100 per cent vaccination rate but there were no systemic failures that led to the Wangaratta outbreak and deaths, Dr Sutton said.

The home has been contacted for comment.