Aggressive Australian flu causing misery to many across country

Over 1,600 sick Brits have been diagnosed with a strain of flu originating in Australia.

Although exact figures for Scarborough are not know, the H3N2 strain of the virus is currently affecting residents.

Around 300 Australians have already died from it.

It’s an unusually aggressive strain with violent symptoms, including: sudden onset fever, a high temperature, diarrhoea or stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, a dry, hacking cough.

The illness lasts for at least a week. As flu is a virus, there is no cure; you can only alleviate the effects by getting plenty of sleep and fluids, and taking Ibuprofen to lower your temperature and relieve aches and pain.

A spokesperson for NHS Scarborough and Ryedale clincical commissioning group said: “We would still urge people, particularly those in ‘at risk’ groups to get the flu vaccination. It remains the best protection we have against flu.

“If people become unwell with symptoms of flu we would ask patients to follow the advice on the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk/ pages/home”