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People are being urged to get vaccinated against the flu after a new mutated variant of the virus, capable of evading the human immune system, saw 'flu season' start a month early in the UK. Experts say the new strain could mean the country has the worst flu season for a decade. Professor Nicola Lewis, director of the World Influenza Centre at the Francis Crick Institute, told the BBC : " We haven't seen a virus like this for a while, these dynamics are unusual. It does concern me, absolutely. I'm not panicking, but I am worried." Experts say there was a sudden mutation in the flu virus detected in June this year, with seven new mutations in the H3N2 variant. Professor Derek Smith, director of the centre for pathogen evolution at the University of Cambridge, told the BBC: "It almost certainly will sweep the world." Vases of flu started to surge in the UK in September, with experts saying it appears the mutations make the new strain more easy to catch and spread. The rise in the number of flu cases has started early in a number of countries - including the UK and Japan. How easily the virus spreads will be seen as people spend more time indoors this winter. Professor Lewis said: "I think it's going to be a strong flu season". Professor Christophe Fraser, from the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford, said: "It's highly likely it's going to be a bad flu season and it's going to happen quite soon, we're already well into it. There are indicators that this could be worse than some of the flu seasons we've seen in the last 10 years." There are a number of different strains of flu, and this year the UK is suffering from infections of H3N2 influenza. Prof Lewis said: "H3 is always a hotter virus, it's a nastier virus, it's more impactful on the population." Last year, nearly 8,000 people died from flu, and in the 2022-23 flu season there were nearly 16,000 deaths. Japan has closed schools to help contain outbreaks. Professor Lewis said: "It might all go away by next week, but I don't think it will." The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said eligible groups should make sure they get their jab on the NHS . The data suggests younger adults and school-age children are driving the early flu wave. Everyone over 65, as well as pregnant women and those in at-risk groups such as people with asthma, heart disease and diabetes, are eligible for a free flu jab on the NHS. Parents are also being reminded to sign and return consent forms to schools for children to get vaccinated, while parents and carers of 2 to 3-year-olds can also book an appointment. Cases of flu are up across all the datasets monitored by the UKHSA, particularly in children. Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “ It’s absolutely crucial that everyone eligible for a flu vaccine books their appointment – it could make all the difference in avoiding severe illness and hospitalisation. It will also help avoid them passing on flu to those around them, including grandparents and those with long-term health conditions. “They can usually have the flu vaccine even if they have a cold, which is very common at this time of the year.” The UKHSA advises that people with flu or Covid symptoms, including high temperature, cough and feeling tired or achy, should try to minimise contact with other people. Dr Cheryl Lythgoe, Society Matron at Benenden Health said: “When the flu strikes, especially at this time of year, it can really knock you off your feet. With the weather changing and lack of sunlight, these illnesses feel harder to overcome. Most people take 5 to 7 days to start feeling better, but it can take up two weeks to feel fully recovered. “Even if your symptoms start to ease and you feel more yourself, you may still be contagious for up to seven days. That’s why it’s important to take precautions, stay home, and rest until you’ve fully recovered. This helps prevent the spread of the virus and gives your body the time it needs to heal completely. If you find symptoms worsening or not going away after 7 days, contact your GP. “And while flu is a viral illness and won’t respond to antibiotics, a small percentage of people do develop a secondary bacterial infection after flu. Therefore, seeing your GP may be required if you aren’t recovering.”
