AS the UK flu season rapidly approaches, Doctorcall, the longest-standing provider of flu vaccinations outside the NHS, is urging the public to take immediate action and get their flu jabs as soon as possible after concerning trends emerged from Australia.

Symptoms for the flu include a sudden high body temperature, an aching body, feeling tired or exhausted, a dry cough, a sore throat, a headache, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, nausea and tummy pains, according to the NHS.

Australia saw a recent surge this year, with a reported 48 per cent increase in confirmed influenza cases.

By September 2024, Australia reported 332,926 influenza cases, up from 224,873 at the same time in 2023 - according to official data issued from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

This sharp rise in influenza activity in Australia is seen as a potential warning for the upcoming flu season in the UK.

The prolonged flu season in 2024, with higher overall case numbers and increased severity, could signal what lies ahead for the Northern Hemisphere - where similar trends have often followed Australia’s flu activity. 

In other words, Australia's recent flu surge shows a dire need for everyone in the UK to get their flu vaccines early this year.

Dr Charles Levinson, Doctorcall Medical Director, commented: “The increase in flu cases in Australia this year is a clear reminder of how unpredictable flu can be.

“With the UK’s flu season just around the corner, vaccination provides the best possible protection from what can be a severe illness.”

Australia's 2024 flu surge highlights the importance of UK vaccination programmes, which in addition to at-risk groups should target all key workers.

Dr Levinson adds: “Early vaccination, which is ideally carried out during September and October, significantly reduces the risk of disruption and also of severe illness including hospitalisation.”