Be aware of the symptoms.
A few months back, the first warnings arrived about the H3N2 virus (aka the "Aussie Flu") - which saw both Australia and New Zealand hit with their worst outbreaks on record – and that the virus would most likely make it to the UK, becoming the worst flu season on record.
On Monday, it was revealed that Conor McGregor had caught the virus, detailing in an Instagram post published on Monday morning: "Well that was a wild New Year's Eve. Half the family hit with the Australian flu virus and some even left in hospital with it. I've never even been to Australia wtf."
And now, the Irish health service has confirmed that the "Aussie Flu" had led to a number of deaths in the country.
The HSE also confirmed that the number of reported cases has doubled in the past few days, with 73 people hospitalised, leading to fears that an outbreak could well reach the UK.
While the symptoms of "Aussie Flu" are similar to the regular flu, they are usually more intense, and while the regular flu should run through your system within a week, if your symptoms persist for more than seven days, check with your doctor to ensure you haven't contracted the new virus.
Aussie flu can lead to pneumonia and other potentially fatal complications, and initial symptoms to look out for include:
- Sore throat and cough
- Headache
- Fever
- Muscle ache
- Fatigue
- Runny nose and sneezing
