Medics are warning Greater Manchester could suffer the worst flu death toll in years - over fears a new deadly strain will arrive from Australia.
Flu cases are already on the rise across England, experts say, with the latest report showing increased diagnoses in the past two weeks by GPs and hospitals .
It comes after public health officials warned English hospitals to brace themselves for more fatal cases this winter.
Australia was hit by one of the largest outbreaks it had seen in years in the southern hemisphere’s winter.
It was blamed for hundreds of deaths and there are fears that the particularly prevalent strain of Aussie flu, H3N2, could be spreading to the UK.
Affecting mainly older people, those with long-term health conditions, pregnant women and children are also high risk.
Symptoms to look out for
The symptoms of most flu, including H3N2, are similar, but different strains can be more severe or contagious than others, reports the Liverpool Echo .
Symptoms can include a sudden fever, aches, exhaustion, a dry chesty cough, headaches, sore throats, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and trouble sleeping.
Children can also get ear pain.
Flu tends to come on in a few hours, makes you feel exhausted and affects more than the nose and throat alone.
It can also lead to much more serious complications like pneumonia.
How to protect yourself
Flu is spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
The flu vaccine is the best protection we have, though flu strains change so it needs to be done every year.
The flu jab is offered free to adults at risk, over-65s and pregnant women.
Children aged two to eight years are eligible for the flu vaccine, which is just a quick and easy nasal spray – if your child is aged two or three, they need to get their nasal spray vaccine from their GP. School aged children will get their nasal spray through their school.
Anyone can help prevent the virus from spreading by washing their hands regularly, covering their mouth and nose with tissues or a sleeve when they cough or sneeze, and cleaning surfaces they suspect are infected.
Flu usually clears up by itself after around a week, but there are ways you can recover more quickly.
Rest, sleep, keeping warm, taking paracetamol or ibuprofen and drinking lots of water are all recommended. You can seek advice most easily from a pharmacist, and are encouraged not to call 999 or go to A&E unless you develop sudden chest pain, have trouble breathing or start coughing blood.
Patients are advised to only go to their GP if their symptoms fail to improve after seven days, they are a child, over-65, pregnant or have a long-term medical condition or weakened immune system.