Urgent Lloyds Pharmacy warning as NHS battling 'earlier than expected' flu season View 2 Images

The flu season has made an unexpectedly early appearance this year. NHS figures reveal the winter flu wave has struck Britain a full month ahead of schedule, with infection rates trebling compared to the same period last year.

Fresh surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that cases have increased this week from 6.1% to 8.2% – predominantly driven by a surge among school-age youngsters – and stand significantly higher than the 2.9% recorded at this point last year. This premature rise has sparked worries about flu transmission spreading throughout the broader population in the forthcoming weeks, potentially leading to a "long and drawn-out flu season".

NHS servic

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