An expert has identified the key warning signs of flu that we should look out for as a new variant, the H3N2 strain, spreads across many countries.
Latest figures of the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) show that in the week ending December 7, flu cases rose, with the weekly positivity rate reaching 21 percent – up from 17 percent the week before in the UK.
Hospital admissions for flu also rose to 10.05 per 100,000 people, up from 8.09 per 100,000 previously.
Ayesha Bashir, prescribing pharmacist at Chemist4Urevealed warning signs people should look out for.
She said: “You may have seen reports of a new strain of flu being monitored this season called H3N2. Flu viruses are constantly changing and evolving, so it is not unusual for new strains to develop and be closely monitored.”
Bashir continued: “What is most important to the public right now is that the symptoms we are seeing are exactly the same as with more familiar flu variants, and the way we fight and prevent flu has not changed. Every winter we see flu cases increasing, but this year they have been picked up a little earlier and a little faster than expected.”
“This winter’s peak is mainly about timing and behavior. Once the weather turns cold, we all spend more time indoors, where viruses spread much more easily. If a new strain like H3N2 is circulating alongside the usual strains, it simply increases the chance of infections spreading quickly,” she concluded.
The ‘key’ symptoms Bashir is vigilant about include:
- A sudden increase in body temperature
- Dry, persistent cough
- Body pain and joint pain
- Headache
- Fatigue that comes on very quickly
- A sore throat
- Loss of appetite
- Occasional nausea or diarrhea
She further explained: “These symptoms don’t differ much between flu strains, so you can’t tell which one you’ve caught based on how you feel. What does matter is how sick you are in general.”
“If you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, or your symptoms worsen after a few days, it is important to seek medical advice. For most healthy adults, flu is unpleasant, but manageable at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter treatments,” pharmacist Ayesha Bashir concluded about the flu.
