Health officials across the country have issued warnings as cases of a new 'super flu' continue to rise in the UK.
While it only seems like a few weeks since most of us were already bed-bound with a pretty horrific cold, doctors seem far more concerned with this latest 'mutant' strain of flu, which is seemingly proving too much for this year's flu vaccine.
The NHS already warned last month that thousands could die during what they predict could be the worst flu season in decades and that haunting prediction could soon come true, after hospitalisations in England rose by a third last week, while in Scotland cases rose by a significant 45 per cent.
It happens almost every year that as the weather drops below freezing, people's health begins to decline and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are now urging people to don masks while out in public to help prevent the spread of the flu, as well as covid and other illnesses, this winter.
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It writes: "As existing guidance states, wearing a well-fitting mask when unwell can reduce the number of particles containing viruses that are released from the mouth and nose of someone who is infected with a respiratory infection.
"Face coverings can also protect the person wearing them from becoming infected with other respiratory viruses."
There are concerns that people could catch multiple illnesses at once, as flu symptoms can make the immune system more vulnerable to pathogens and germs which attack the body, leading to potential problems such as Norovirus, Coronavirus and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Dr Victoria Shotton, a GP in Scotland, explained that her surgery was admitting three times as many patients with flu compared to this time last year.
She said: "We are seeing a massive increase in presentations on a daily basis. It has started early this year and is more severe than last year.
"Unfortunately it looks like this year's jab isn't offering the same protection as last year," she said.
"Through no fault of anyone involved, it isn't quite covering the main strain that's going around.
"However, that doesn't mean that it's not worth getting because it will still offer some protection and prevent the flu from getting so serious that you need to go to hospital."
This year's strain, which has been categorised as H3N2, is said to be 'super infections', 'hotter' and 'nastier' and comes with unpleasant symptoms such as severe chest pains, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Professor Nicola Lewis, the director of the World Influenza Centre at the Francis Crick Institute, said: "We haven't seen a virus like this for a while, these dynamics are unusual.
"It does concern me, absolutely. I'm not panicking, but I am worried.
"H3 is always a hotter virus, it's a nastier virus, it's more impactful on the population."
James Moorhouse