HOW TO BEAT THE FOUR STRAINS

OF the many types of flu around the world, Britain has been hit by four main types this winter.

Health bosses say good hand hygiene and giving eligible people a flu vaccine are the best defences.

The virus can live for hours on hard surfaces, so washing hands with warm, soapy water or hand sanitizer can limit the spread of germs.

Public Health England and the Department of Health launched their Catch It, Bin It, Kill It campaign yesterday, telling people to catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue, bin it, and wash their hands to kill the germs.

Getting a jab will also cut the risk. It is free on the NHS to those over 5, pregnant women, those with certain conditions, care home residents, those on carer’s allowance and front-line health and social care staff.

Everyone else can pay £20 for a jab from pharmacies and supermarkets.

The four strains sweeping Britain are:

H3N2 – Named Aussie flu after it hit Australia last winter, it tends to affect the elderly, who do not respond well to vaccines. There have been 3 confirmed cases.

H1N1 – Known as swine flu, this often targets children, on whom jabs works well. Fifty confirmed cases. A global pandemic struck in 2009.

B/YAMAGATA – Only people given the new four-strain vaccine are protected. This type has led to 3 cases.

B/VICTORIA – Doctors protect patients using the normal three-strain vaccine. Just four cases so far.