{"id":79443,"date":"2025-10-30T14:35:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/flu-season-hits-five-weeks-early\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T14:35:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:35:00","slug":"flu-season-hits-five-weeks-early","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=79443","title":{"rendered":"Flu season hits five weeks early"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The UK’s winter flu season has begun five weeks earlier than usual, health officials are warning.<\/p>\n

The UK Health Security Agency said cases were rising quickly among children and young people \u2013 and warned the virus would soon start to spread across older age groups.<\/p>\n

The organisation urged people eligible for the flu vaccine to come forward to get protected.<\/p>\n

But they said it was too early to say how difficult and serious this year’s flu season would be.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Two of the worst winter flu seasons of the past decade have been seen in the last three years, something partly attributed to the bounce-back of the virus after Covid restrictions and when immunity has been low.<\/p>\n

Last year nearly 8,000 people died from flu and in the 2022-23 flu season there were nearly 16,000 deaths.<\/p>\n

UKHSA flu lead Dr Suzanna McDonald said: “We are worried that flu has started to circulate a little bit earlier than usual.<\/p>\n

“It’s a very serious disease. It’s not just a nasty cold. <\/p>\n

“We have started to see early activity, particularly in young adults, mainly sort of university age students, and also with school-aged children. <\/p>\n

“We would expect in the coming weeks that this will start to spread throughout the community and this is something that we will monitor very closely.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Dr Alex Allen, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, urged all eligible people to come forward for vaccination.<\/p>\n

Everyone aged 65 and over, pregnant women and those with certain long-term health conditions can get a free flu jab on the NHS.<\/p>\n

“If you’re eligible for a vaccine it is because you are at greater risk of severe illness \u2013 every year we see many thousands end up in hospital and far too many deaths from flu. <\/p>\n

“It’s crucial that everyone eligible books their appointment as soon as possible. The vaccine is our best defence.”<\/p>\n

He also reminded parents of under 16-year-olds to return consent forms to school so their children can get vaccinated, or if they are aged two and three to arrange a vaccine via their GP.<\/p>\n

“The nasal spray vaccine can help stop your child from getting very unwell and reduce the risk of passing flu to vulnerable family members.<\/p>\n

“Anyone with flu or Covid symptoms \u2013 including high temperature, cough, and feeling tired or achy \u2013 should minimise contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable. <\/p>\n

“If you need to go out with symptoms, consider wearing a face covering, wash hands regularly and ensure indoor spaces are well ventilated,” he added. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, UKHSA said Covid cases were decreasing and the virus was now at baseline levels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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