About 1400 blood donors each day are cancelling appointments after being struck down by illness, leading to a crisis in blood stocks in the lead up to winter.

The early start to the flu season has created a dire situation for the Red Cross which needs an extra 5900 people to give blood in the next fortnight, sparking an urgent appeal for more people to come forward.

Health authorities are already reporting skyrocketing cases of the flu compared to this time this year, including a higher number of deaths.

South Australia has reported an astonishing 15,500 flu cases which was considered only the “tip of the ice berg”, compared to a significantly less 1400 last year.

There have been 35 deaths in the southern state and about 70 outbreaks of the disease in aged care facilities.

Western Australia has also experienced a flu surge, with 3013 official cases – almost three times more than the same time last year – and 10 deaths.

NSW sits on 37 deaths, Victoria, 26, and Queensland at least 25.

Warnings of a deadly flu season have prompted a rush of patients seeking vaccinations, with doctors now running out of stock.

The Red Cross says it desperately needs help, particularly donors with O and A type blood.

“We haven’t seen cancellations this high since March 2017, and as the number of people suffering cold and flu symptoms increases, it limits the number of regular donors who are able to give,” blood service spokeswoman Helen Walsh said.

“We need people who are fully recovered from colds or the flu, and those who have avoided it, to take the place of those who are unable to answer our call.”

People can still donate blood if they’ve had the flu shot.

Donors who have had colds or the flu can give blood again seven days after they have recovered.

One blood donation can save three lives and blood can be made into 22 medical treatments.

About one-third of blood donations help people with cancer and 18 per cent assist patients undergoing surgery.

Donors can give either full blood, plasma or platelets.

-AAP