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The UK could be in store for a severe flu season after Australia – which typically serves as a predictor for the northern hemisphere – suffered its worst in five years.
The figures already show there are 10 times more people in hospital with flu than this time last year.
NHS leaders have warned the country is facing a “tripledemic” threat of COVID, flu and a record demand on urgent and emergency services amid pressures on staffing.
What are the symptoms of flu?
Influenza symptoms include a high temperature, headache, tiredness and a dry, chesty cough, along with cold-like symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose, sneezing and a sore throat.
Unlike the common cold, symptoms tend to begin more suddenly and are more severe and longer lasting.
How flu cases in Australia inform the northern hemisphere
Experts typically monitor flu cases during winter in Australia and New Zealand in order to inform predictions about the impact the virus will have when winter reaches the UK.
This year, Australia saw a rapid rise in flu cases, which started earlier than usual and reached record-high numbers.
The majority of flu cases in Australia were due to influenza A, according to the Australian health department, which is known to cause more severe epidemics.
New Zealand also saw its highest flu rates compared to the last two years.
Read more:
Hospital flu cases up 10 times on last year, NHS England data shows
NHS leaders more concerned about this winter than any previous one
Relaxation of COVID measures leads to spike in flu
According to an article in The Lancet, the sharp increase in infections was likely driven by a relaxation of measures put in place to combat COVID-19, such as isolation, social distancing and wearing masks.
“The Australian data provide a warning for an earlier and more severe influenza season in the northern hmisphere,” the researchers said.
The authors also said flu had not been circulating as much over the last two years, so…
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