Seasonal flu

Flu is an illness associated with infection by influenza virus. Symptoms frequently include headache, fever, cough, sore throat, aching muscles and joints.

Flu occurs most often in winter and usually peaks between December and March. There are two main types that cause infection: influenza A and influenza B. Influenza A usually causes a more severe illness.

New strains and variants of flu are constantly emerging, which is one of the reasons why the flu vaccine should be given each year.

For most people, influenza infection is just a nasty experience, but for some it can lead to more serious illnesses. The most common complications of influenza are bronchitis and pneumonia. These illnesses may require treatment in hospital and can be life threatening, especially in the elderly, asthmatics and those in at risk groups.