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A mutated strain of flu has kick-started an 'unusually early' surge in cases, and experts warn the UK could be hit by its worst flu season in a decade.

Health officials issued an urgent 'flu jab SOS' last week, urging people to get protected now amid the early wave of the virus. NHS England said cases are already triple what was recorded at the same time last year , with weeks to go before the worst of the flu season typically bites.

The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data, published on Thursday (November 6), shows the percentage of people who tested positive for flu increased to 10.9 per cent last week, compared with 8.2 per cent the previous week and 6.1 per cent the week before that.

The rise is being driven particularly by school-aged children betw

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