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A mutant flu strain that is both more severe and more contagious than normal is driving an 'unusually early' flu season in the UK, health officials have warned.

After flu levels began to climb, the NHS issued an urgent 'flu jab SOS' , urging those who are eligible to get vaccinated against the virus.

The NHS 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 hits.

Experts have blamed a new strain driving an early surge in flu cases . This 'drifted' influenza A(H3N2) strain, also now known as subclade K, currently dominates cases in England.

The dominant virus tends to cause more severe illness than other circulating strains , warned Dr Antonia Ho, Clinical Senior Lecturer and

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