Flu season arrives earlier than usual in England, experts say

UK Health Security Agency notes above-average flu activity in September and urges at-risk groups to get vaccinated

Flu is striking earlier than usual in England, experts have said, insisting that vaccination is the best way to blunt its impact.

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), flu is at low levels, but various metrics, such as the proportion of positive tests and GP consultations for influenza-like illness, suggest it is on the rise, with the number of emergency-department attendances for influenza-like illness above seasonally expected levels.