Health Officials Worried As Flu Season Comes Early

The UK's wintertime flu play has begun 5 weeks earlier than usual, wellness officials are warning.

The UK Health Security Agency said cases were rising quickly among children and young group – and warned nan microorganism would soon commencement to dispersed crossed older property groups.

The organisation urged group eligible for nan flu vaccine to travel guardant to get protected.

But they said it was excessively early to opportunity really difficult and superior this year's flu play would be.

Two of nan worst wintertime flu seasons of nan past decade person been seen successful nan past 3 years, thing partially attributed to nan bounce-back of nan microorganism aft Covid restrictions and erstwhile immunity has been low.

Last twelvemonth astir 8,000 group died from flu and successful nan 2022-23 flu play location were astir 16,000 deaths.

UKHSA flu lead Dr Suzanna McDonald said: "We are worried that flu has started to move a small spot earlier than usual.

"It's a very superior disease. It's not conscionable a nasty cold.

"We person started to spot early activity, peculiarly successful young adults, chiefly benignant of assemblage property students, and besides pinch school-aged children.

"We would expect successful nan coming weeks that this will commencement to dispersed passim nan organization and this is thing that we will show very closely."

Dr Alex Allen, a advisor epidemiologist astatine UKHSA, urged each eligible group to travel guardant for vaccination.

Everyone aged 65 and over, pregnant women and those pinch definite semipermanent wellness conditions tin get a free flu jab connected nan NHS.

"If you're eligible for a vaccine it is because you are astatine greater consequence of terrible unwellness – each twelvemonth we spot galore thousands extremity up successful infirmary and acold excessively galore deaths from flu. It's important that everyone eligible books their assignment arsenic soon arsenic possible. The vaccine is our champion defence."

He besides reminded parents to return consent forms to schoolhouse truthful their children tin get vaccinated, aliases if they are aged 2 and 3 to put a vaccine via their GP.

"The nasal spray vaccine tin thief extremity your kid from getting very unwell and trim nan consequence of passing flu to susceptible family members.

"Anyone pinch flu aliases Covid symptoms – including precocious temperature, cough, and emotion tired aliases achy – should minimise interaction pinch others, particularly those who are vulnerable. If you request to spell retired pinch symptoms, see wearing a look covering, lavation hands regularly and guarantee indoor spaces are good ventilated," he added.