Killer flu ‘ARRIVES’ in UK as ‘WORST outbreak in 50 years’ hits 1,000 Brits in 7 days

A deadly Flu known as the Aussie Flu is believed to be gripping the UK amid fears it will be the worst outbreak in 50 years.

In the last seven days alone 1,111 people have been hit by flu – a shocking increase of 156%.

And experts believe this suggests the killer strain, called H3N2, has arrived.

The Royal Liverpool is among Britain’s hospitals which has seen a sudden hike in flu admissions.

Down Under it has killed 300 people and affected 170,000 as carnage swept Australian hospitals in one of the country’s largest outbreaks.

The terrifying strain mainly affects older people, those with long-term health conditions, pregnant women and children.

And worryingly its symptoms are identical to those of a normal flu – sore throat, headache, fever, muscle ache, runny nose, sneezing and fatigue.

Only with this mutated strain the symptoms are much more severe, and if it persists for longer than a week, it’s potentially Aussie Flu.

The fatal disease, which can be fought with rest, sleep, keeping warm, taking paracetamol or ibuprofen and drinking plenty of water, can lead to pneumonia and other potentially deadly health complications.

Nick Phin, of Public Health England, told The Sun there is no real confirmation Aussie Flu has arrived yet, but said the best way to avoid catching Aussie Flu is to get the flu jab.

He said: “Flu activity, as measured by a number of different systems, has continued to increase in the last week or two.

“This is to be expected as the season progresses and at this point the numbers are in-keeping with previous years.

“The circulating flu strains match those in the current flu vaccine, so the vaccine remains the best defence against the virus.”

Experts have been warning the Aussie flu could be more dangerous than the 1968 flu pandemic that killed more than a million worldwide.

Public health expert Professor Robert Dingwall, of Nottingham Trent University, previously told BT.com: “The reports from Australia suggest the UK might be in for the worst winter flu season for many years.”