Aussie Flu in UK: What you need to know and how you can prevent it
The Australian Flu has the potential to be deadly
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Your support makes all the difference.With winter comes the threat of flu - but this season the UK is at risk of contracting a new strain, the Australian flu.
Aussie flu is a particularly severe strain and has caused one of the worst epidemics in Australia. Now there are fears the Aussie flu is to blame for a tough bout of winter flu here in the UK, with deaths linked to the flu already reported in Ireland.
Here is what you need to know about strain H3N2.
This particular strain is an Influenza A virus, the most common type of flu. It can affect all people but has the potential to be deadly in the elderly, as well as any with pre-existing health conditions.
For most people, contracting the Aussie flu should only result in a week of illness.
If you do contract the Aussie flu, the NHS suggests plenty of bed rest, staying hydrated, and using Ibuprofen for any aches or pains. You should also stay home from work until you have recovered, as the flu is particularly contagious - you should be able to return within a week.
The Symptoms:
The symptoms of Aussie flu are similar to most flu symptoms but can be more severe. According to the NHS, these include:
A sudden fever - a temperature of 38C or above
- Aching body
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- A dry cough
- A sore throat
- A headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea or stomach pain
- Nausea
Prevention:
The flu jab - although the jab may not prevent this specific strain, it will protect you from other flu strains. It is also thought that getting the flu jab will lessen the severity of the flu if you do catch it.
Wash your hands, especially before eating, and avoid contact with people you know are infected. Use tissues.
Who is at risk:
Unfortunately, all people can catch the flu and you are more likely to spread the flu within the first five days.
However, high-risk groups include pregnant women, elderly, young children, and those who weakened immune systems.
Children are particularly susceptible to the flu and are also known to spread it more easily due to hygiene.
When to contact your doctor:
If you begin to have difficulty breathing, sudden chest pains, or begin to cough up blood.
If your symptoms don’t improve after seven days
If you’re over 65, pregnant, or in a high-risk group.
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