Influenza is a seasonal virus that emerges and peaks in winter, so with evenings shortening in the UK, it’s time to think about flu again.
Countries in the northern hemisphere closely monitor flu trends in Australia, because this helps predict how winter flu season might play out there. Flu viruses are monitored to keep track of what’s circulating, the age groups most affected and how well the vaccines are working.
In 2020 and 2021, at the height of the COVID pandemic, flu rates fell dramatically around the world. This is probably because of the unprecedented change in human behaviour, with social distancing, hand hygiene, mask-wearing and travel restrictions. This changed in 2022, with Australia having an earlier-than-usual flu season, which peaked in June instead of August.
