Flu cases are on the up across the country (Image: Getty Images)

Brits are being urged to be vigilant for symptoms of a new flu strain as the virus rapidly spreads across the country ahead of Christmas . NHS leaders, including those at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital in Birmingham, have declared critical incidents due to concerns that the H3N2 strain - known as subclade K - could lead to one of the most severe flu seasons on record.

NHS data released last week revealed an average of 1,717 hospital beds were occupied by flu patients, with 69 in critical care. This figure is 56% higher than last year and ten times higher than in 2023, reports the Mirror . Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.

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