suggests it could be the worst flu season for seven years.

Image copyrighHospitals in England are now seeing very high rates of patients with flu, according to Public Health England figures.

A sharp rise in cases seen by GPs in the past week - 

up 78% on the week before - suggests it could be the worst flu season for seven years.

But PHE said the current levels of flu were "not unprecedented".

Deaths from flu remained static with 27 in the past seven days.

Around 5,000 people were admitted to hospital with flu in the first week of January, based on PHE figures for 22 out of 137 trusts.

Prof Paul Cosford, medical director from Public Health England, said: "The levels of flu being seen are high and of course that is contributing to the pressures in the NHS, but they are not unprecedented levels."

He also suggested the coverage of the so-called Aussie flu outbreak was a little misleading, saying that while it was circulating at "significant" levels there were two other strains that were also causing problems.

• Should we be worried about 'Aussie' flu?

These strains are an unknown type of influenza A and influenza B - which is normally a milder strain - but appears to be affecting older people in care homes.

The H3N2 strain - an influenza A virus - has been dubbed 'Aussie flu' because it is the same strain that recently caused big problems for Australia during their winter.

Image copyright

Image caption18-year-old Bethany Walker died after contracting the flu and developing pneumonia

This year's flu vaccine is designed to protect against this strain and some other ones.

Figures in Scotland show a doubling of flu cases in the past week but mortality rates related to the virus were still said to be low.

However, an 18-year-old student from Wester Ross died after her flu developed into pneumonia.

In Wales, a large rise in flu cases has prompted advice to stay away from some hospitals.

The rate of hospital admissions in England rose by over 50% in the first week of January to 7.38 per 100,000.

In the same week, the GP consultation rate was 37.3 per 100,000 compared to 21 per 100,000 the week before.

Nearly 22,000 patients went to see their GP with flu in the first week of 2018, the Royal College of GPs said, and there was also a rise in people seen with the common cold, acute bronchitis, respiratory system diseases and asthma.

Flu rates in England

GP consultation rates per 100,000 for flu-like illness. Tap or click for more details.

Source: Public Health England

Map produced by Carto

What is flu?

Flu symptoms can come on very quickly and can last for a week or more.

Symptoms include a fever (temperature above 38C), aches, headache, tiredness, a chesty cough, tummy pain and loss of appetite.

Children can also get pain in their ears and appear lacking in energy.

Flu can be particularly unpleasant for certain people, such as the over-65s, pregnant women and those with other serious health conditions.

Health officials say getting the vaccine every year is the best way to protect against flu.

Flu jab worked in one in three cases

By James GallagherHealth editor, BBC News website

• 12 September 2015
 
• From the sectionHealth

Image copyrightSPL

Last winter's flu jab worked in 34% of cases, according to a final report by Public Health England.

At one stage early in the season, it was estimated that the vaccine was stopping only three out of every 100 immunised people developing symptoms.

But the report said there had been a "shift" in the dominant circulating strains during the rest of the winter.

Prof Paul Cosford, from Public Health England, said its effectiveness had been "slightly lower" than usual.

Flu is a constantly shifting target making it difficult to develop a vaccine. It is why a new jab is needed each year.

Officials are concerned that the drop in the vaccine's effectiveness may affect uptake this coming winter.

'Unpredictable virus'

Every year the World Health Organization picks the three strains of flu that are most likely to be circulating.

A flu vaccine normally works in 50 out of every 100 cases.

But one strain of flu mutated so significantly that the vaccine offered much lower levels of protection.

The strain in question, H3N2, was also a particular worry as it primarily kills the elderly.

Prof Cosford said: "Whilst it's not possible to fully predict the strains that will circulate in any given season, flu vaccination remains the best protection we have against an unpredictable virus which can cause severe illness and deaths each year among at-risk groups.

"These include older people, pregnant women and those with a health condition, even one that is well-managed."

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