New Mutated Strain of Flu Drives Worst Illness in a Decade Across the UK
A new flu variant has started to spread earlier than usual in the United Kingdom, raising concerns among health experts that the country may face its most severe flu season in ten years. The current wave could surpass previous years, when 8,000 people died last year and 16,000 in the season before that.
Rapid Spread and Rising Concerns
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people showing flu symptoms to avoid contact with others. Doctors also recommend self-isolation for seven days if infected. Parallel measures are being seen abroad, with Japan closing schools to slow the spread.
Mutation and Transmission
Scientists have identified a sudden mutation in the H3N2 variant detected in June, featuring seven new genetic changes. Early reports suggest this mutated flu strain spreads more easily and is more contagious than typical seasonal flu types. It has been described as “hotter and nastier.”
“We haven't seen a virus like this for a while, these dynamics are unusual. It does concern me, absolutely. I'm not panicking, but I am worried.” — Professor Nicola Lewis, World Influenza Centre at the Francis Crick Institute
“It almost certainly will sweep the world.” — Professor Derek Smith, Centre for Pathogen Evolution, University of Cambridge
Flu cases in the UK began to climb sharply in September, emphasizing the rapid pace and potential seriousness of this new strain’s spread.
Preventive Actions Encouraged
- Avoid contact with others if showing symptoms.
- Follow doctors’ advice to isolate for a week if infected.
- Stay alert to public health updates and vaccination guidance.
Author’s Summary
The early emergence of a mutated H3N2 flu strain with increased transmissibility has led experts to warn of the fiercest UK flu season in a decade.