Vaccine warning as Australian '˜flu threat grows
A Public Health England spokeswoman said: “The current ‘flu vaccine is still the best defence we have against the virus. We therefore encourage all those who are eligible to take up the offer of the vaccine.”
The warning comes following reports of several deaths in Ireland of people who contracted the H3N2 strain.
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Hide AdThe H3N2 strain, which caused one of Australia’s worst ‘flu outbreaks last year, can lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions.
Symptoms are similar to normal ‘flu but are more severe.
If people continue to feel really ill after a week it could indicate something more serious.
To limit the spread of the virus, PHE suggests washing hands frequently, sneezing into tissues and discarding them and regularly cleaning often-used surfaces such as keyboards, and phones.