London, Europe Brief News- The flu season has begun earlier than normal in England, say officials.
The country has reported over the past week an unprecedented increase in cases of flu.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says hospital and ICU admissions for the respiratory disease are rising the fastest in children under five.
Hospital rates are going up among the elderly too.
It’s not clear how big a wave the UK might be in for – levels are still relatively low overall.
But health experts are urging anyone who is eligible for a flu shot to get one.
Many southern hemisphere nations have just had their most rampant influenza season for years and officials have been warning that the UK must prepare for a big, early wave of flu too.
More than 40 million people, including young children, in the UK are being offered a flu vaccine.
The over-50s and younger adults with health conditions are also being offered a Covid booster jab this autumn and winter.
Vaccination can help prevent people getting very sick.
The UKHSA says this year’s flu jab is a good match for the type of seasonal influenza that is circulating – a strain called H3N2.
In Australia, which had a reasonably severe flu season during its winter, the jab was well matched to that strain. It is the same one that caused a bad flu season for the UK in 2017-18.
