News & Social Media
What’s the difference between Aussie flu and a cold?
Posted on 16/01/2018 by
What’s the difference between Aussie flu and a cold? Some useful tips to check your symptoms… including using the £20 note test
Aussie flu can be potentially deadly, but its symptoms are similar to those of a cold
AUSSIE flu is causing chaos across Britain - with an ever-growing number struck down by the brutal flu strain.
Here's what we know about the virus that's sweeping across the country...
What is Aussie flu?
Aussie flu is a vicious strain of the influenza virus.
Scientifically known as H3N2, Aussie flu came to Britain from Australia, where it is thought to have caused their worst winter death rate in years.
And the rising numbers of people suffering with it mean some areas in England are nearing epidemic levels.
Deaths from flu have increased by half just in the past week.
In one trgaic incident an 18-year-old girl named Bethany Walker died after contracting the flu virus.
Bethany Walker, from Applecross in Scotland, suffered from the virus but her condition rapidly deteriorated after contracting pneumonia.
What are the symptoms of Aussie flu?
The symptoms between the potentially deadly flu though, and just a common cold can be hard to distinguish.
Cold symptoms include a cough, raised temperature, runny nose and a sore throat, but luckily for sufferers, these symptoms should ease fairly quickly.
The flu is much more prolonged and severe, with vomiting or diarrhoea, lethargy and muscle ache.
Aussie flu makes the symptoms of normal flu even more severe, and can lead to pneumonia and other serious conditions.
Sufferers might feel unwell for longer.
How do you know if you have Aussie flu or just a cold?
Dr. Ranj told the Mirror that if you're unsure whether you have the flu or just a cold, he has a test to help you figure it out.
He said: "A silly test to differentiate between cold and flu would be to leave a £20 note on the floor. The person with a cold will pick up the money, but the person with the flu won’t even care that it’s there!"
How do you prevent the spread of Aussie flu?
Experts have warned that kids returning to school after the Christmas holidays are likely to accelerate the Aussie flu spread, with children the ideal carriers for illnesses.
Kids naturally have more germs, and pick up and pass infections to their family.
The flu virus germs last for 24 hours on a hard surface - but if you use disinfectant, you can kill them and prevent the spread infecting more people in your family with the flu.
Professor Paul Cosford, medical director at PHE, said: “People suffering with flu-like symptoms should catch coughs or sneezes in tissues and bin them immediately, wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water and frequently clean regularly-used surfaces to stop the spread of flu.
“Avoid having unnecessary contact with other people if you or they have symptoms of flu.”