Aussie flu is ‘the deadliest for 50 years’

DEADLY Aussie flu that is heading for the UK could cause havoc for our hospitals, say experts.

The NHS is warned to be ready to handle the worst epidemic to hit our shores since the Hong Kong outbreak of nearly 50 years ago, which claimed one million-plus lives globally.

Some A&E units in Australia have had “standing room only” after being the country was swamped by more than 137,000 cases of the H3N2 strain. Prof Robert Dingwall, a public health expert at Nottingham Trent University, said it seems “inevitable” it will reach Britain.

And he warned: “Based on the Australian experience, officials need to urgently review emergency planning procedures.

“Public Health England should be working to ensure more hospital beds are freed up. We need to be prepared, alert and flexible.

“This is potentially the worst winter since the Hong Kong flu of 1968.” NHS chief Simon Stevens has admitted the virus could cause “pressure” for hospitals and GP surgeries.

Australia has suffered one of its worst outbreaks on record – with two and a half times the normal number of cases.

The bug has already claimed three lives, including a girl, eight, and a mother-of-two.

It is estimated one to four million people were killed by the Hong Kong epidemic, which spread to 500,000 people within two weeks.