Doctors have issued a warning over ‘worrisome’ symptoms as the flu is sweeping across the UK.
Having been on a downwards trend in December, recent NHS data showed a slight increase in the number of people in hospital with the flu as a new strain is feared.
It was thought Christmas and new year gatherings may have caused a ‘bounce back’ in winter viruses as well as the cold weather. Data showed that the number of people in hospital beds with flu in England was at a daily average of 2,924 during the week ending 4 January – up by nine percent from the previous week.
“It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter, with hospitals again experiencing a rise in patients admitted with flu and other respiratory virus cases last week,” NHS national medical director Prof Meghana Pandit said.
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Brits are continuing to be urged to get vaccinated to be protected against flu as ‘we are not out of the woods yet’.
“Flu can be serious, particularly for older people, young children and those with underlying conditions, and vaccination remains the best protection. I urge everyone who is eligible to get their flu jab as soon as possible,” Health Secretary Wes Streeting said.
“By acting now, we can help keep people out of hospital, support our NHS staff through the toughest weeks of winter, and ensure emergency care is there for those who need it most.”
This winter's variant has been nicknamed the ‘super flu’ with the strain, called subclade K, a mutated version of the seasonal influenza A (H3N2) virus.
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It’s important to note that this unofficial term doesn’t mean that the actual flu has become harder to treat, it’s more just that people haven’t encountered much of it in recent years, so there’s less immunity built up against it.
Some doctors have noticed that with this flu strain, people are experiencing ‘more fever’ with it than they are ‘accustomed to’.
“And the fever can last up to seven days, so five to seven days. And that's worrisome,” Dr Mark Loafman told NBC Chicago.
Lung expert Juanita Mora also echoed this: “This new strain has symptoms of really high fevers. It has a really bad cough that won't go away, very phlegmy, and also vomiting and diarrhoea and lots of joint aches as well as muscle aches."
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Symptoms of flu and how to treat it
The NHS explains that symptoms tend to come on very quickly and can include:
· A sudden high temperature
· An aching body
· Feeling tired or exhausted
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· A dry cough
· A sore throat
· A headache
· Difficulty sleeping
· Loss of appetite
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· Diarrhoea or tummy pain
· Feeling sick or being sick
To treat it yourself at home, it’s recommended to rest and get plenty of sleep, keep warm, take paracetamol or ibuprofen and to drink plenty of water. Pharmacists can also help give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies.
Always seek advice from a health professional if you have concerns.
Jess Battison