Flu warning as more severe strain now dominates

PUBLIC Health Wales is urging all eligible groups particularly those aged 65 and over and residents in care homes, to get vaccinated as soon as possible following evidence that flu is circulating earlier than usual in Wales.

- By OWEN HUGHES Chief Reporter [e-mail]

The latest surveillance data, including data from GPs, hospital testing and confirmed outbreaks in different settings, shows that influenza activity is increasing and that the flu season has started earlier than usual.

Influenza levels currently remain low, but case numbers are expected to rise over the coming weeks.

The flu season usually begins around late November or early December, so this current activity is around a month earlier than in recent seasons.

One concern is that influenza A(H3) is the type of flu being detecting in the largest numbers. In seasons where this variant dominates there are usually higher levels of illness and outbreaks in residential care homes and in older adults.