Seasonal influenza, or flu is a respiratory illness associated with infection by influenza virus.
Influenza occurs most often in winter and usually peaks between December and March.
For more detail, follow the links below.
If you think you may have seasonal influenza, contact NHS Direct or phone your doctor.
What can you do?
Attention to personal respiratory and hand hygiene is always good practice and includes:
- Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and using a tissue where possible.
- Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully (catch it, bin it, kill it).
- Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of any virus from your hands to face or to other people.
- Frequent cleaning of hard surfaces (e.g. high traffic areas such as door handles and light switches) using a normal cleaning product.
- Making sure your children follow this advice.
A short video promoting self help respiratory, hand hygiene, is available for viewing.