There has been one confirmed case of Aussie flu in the island.

New Health Minister David Ashford said there had been one confirmed case of the H3N2 flu strain but the patient was not admitted to hospital.

’There had been one confirmed case but they were treated externally,’ he said.

He said this year’s flu vaccination does contain protection against the Aussie flu strain.

In Britain and Ireland, Aussie flu is reported to have been claiming an alarming number of victims this winter, and putting unprecedented pressure on health services.

But it is not always clear which strain of the flu virus is responsible.

Flu is not a notifiable disease, so statistics are not held by the island’s Public Health division.

Seasonal flu strains change each year.

One of the strains of seasonal flu circulating this year - H3N2 - has been labelled Aussie flu because it’s the same strain that recently caused problems for Australia. This strain was also around last flu season (2016-17) in the UK.

A spokesman for the DHSC said: ’The annual flu vaccination used this year does contain the H3N2 strain to help protect those who are vaccinated against this particular strain.

’Every year, the World Health Organisation reviews the global situation and recommends which flu strains should go into the vaccine to be manufactured for the following season, so this year’s flu jab is designed to protect against H3N2 as well as some other strains.’

l Mr Ashford talks to the Examiner, see page 14