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Flu is continuing to circulate at levels typically not seen until around Christmas , with a new strain driving an 'unusually early' start to the season.

Health bosses have issued an urgent appeal for anyone eligible for a flu jab to get vaccinated as soon as possible, warning that cases are likely to rise further as the festive period approaches.

The rate of hospital admissions for flu in England stood at 3.9 per 100,000 people last week, broadly unchanged from 4.0 the previous week, according to data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

While this is still below the peaks reached in recent years, it is a rate of admissions usually not seen until December. At this point in 2024 the rate stood at only 1.2 per 100,000 people, while in 2023 it was 0.4 and in

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