Record flu surge predicted this winter as health experts urge people to get their shots – Cambridgeshire Live

An outbreak of flu is feared by top health experts to happen in the UK this Winter. Drawing from a sharp wave of cases in Australia during their winter, a record 35 million people are currently eligible to have a flu jab, reports The Express.

Professor Robert Booy, an infectious diseases expert at Sydney University, said many viruses had made a comeback during Australias winter, from June to August. He warned: You can be quite sure the UK is going to get at least a moderate, and potentially a severe respiratory viral season.

It will be dominated by flu and Covid but also include other viruses. You need to be preparing now.

There were almost no UK flu cases in the last two years, as Covid measures including lockdowns subdued other viruses. However, that means immunity is likely to be low, leaving people more vulnerable and the NHS struggling even more than it already is.

Read more: Covid Winter booster: Who is eligible as autumn jab programme rolls out and how to book

More than 223,000 flu cases were reported in Australia this year. They included 295 deaths and 1,763 hospital admissions. In 2021, only 512 cases were recorded. There were no deaths.

Prof Booy said: Flu came early this year, which was unusual, and it peaked quickly, then went away fast. Whereas previously it had been spread over three months, this time it was more like six to eight weeks. That was because we think a lot of viruses came back this year.

All these viruses were spreading like crazy and competing with each other, so the combination of all of them led to a bad respiratory season.

Prof Booy said immunity had fallen, particularly among children aged one to three never exposed to flu. The elderly also face increased risk through not being around the virus for a couple of years.

Prof Booy said: We dont have optimal rates of immunisation in young children or the elderly. We could do better, in the UK and here.

Flu jabs are being offered to a record number of people in the UK this year, including over-50s, healthcare staff, carers and mothers-to-be. There are fears even a moderate wave of respiratory infections could hit the struggling NHS.

The service did not have its usual summer respite and there has been record pressure on ambulances and A&E departments in recent months. Prof Booy said Australia experienced real pressure on its health system, prompting many regions to offer free flu jabs to all ages.

Read more: Cambs couple 'reluctant' to return to KFC after finding 'bloody chicken' in bargain bucket

He said vulnerable people should take simple, common sense measures, such as wearing a mask, keeping their distance, cutting the number of social guests and moving events outside. Gary McLean, a molecular immunology professor at London Metropolitan University, said there was no better time to have the annual flu jab and the Covid booster.

He added: We look to the southern hemisphere to predict what the northern hemisphere influenza season might be and what dominant strains of the virus are circulating. With the predicted rise in Covid cases also occurring, we are likely in for a bad winter in terms of respiratory virus infections.

Professor of medicine Paul Hunter, of the University of East Anglia, warned there may be a big peak in infections and many people getting quite sick. The health protection expert added: Many people may not have had flu for five years. Taking up the flu jab if offered is the best thing you can do to protect yourself this winter from this infection.

Read more:

Go here to see the original:

Record flu surge predicted this winter as health experts urge people to get their shots - Cambridgeshire Live