Bruta’ ‘Ok-strain’ superflu outbreak to comb UK as docs warn ‘wake-up name to us all’
UK medics are urging parents to get their little ones and themselves protected from the ‘Kiwi’ superflu heading this way
Brutal “Kiwi” superflu outbreak that particularly hits children under five to sweep Britain(Image: Getty)
Medics are on alert for a brutal flu outbreak in Britain this winter after a deadly variant that particularly hits children under five swept through New Zealand.
Kiwi doctors have been battling a new “K-strain” of the seasonal virus that has led to hospital flu admissions at a 10-year high and is threatening a “historic” death toll.
Children under five are filling more hospital beds than any other age group, and now UK medics are urging parents to get their little ones and themselves protected from the ‘Kiwi’ superflu heading this way.
UK pharmacies are making emergency preparations for the winter season with thousands of vaccines being stocked as the weather begins to cool.
Medics keep a close eye on infection data from the earlier winter in the southern hemisphere in efforts to forecast the scale of the flu outbreak facing Britain.
UK pharmacies are making emergency preparations for the winter season with thousands of vaccines being stocked as the weather begins to cool.(Image: Getty)
Fears over the fast-acting bug – that causes chills, fever and headaches – have prompted New Zealand health authorities to expand their free flu jab programme to children aged six months to five years.
In Britain, all two and three year old children, plus primary and secondary school aged children can get a free NHS jab. Older and vulnerable Brits are also eligible.
This year, the data from New Zealand is causing real concern with sky-high levels of influenza A, and Auckland recording its worst week for flu-related hospital admissions in a decade.
In New Zealand, public health professor Michael Baker fears his nation faces an “historically” high death rate this flu season, pointing to a sharp rise in people being sent to hospital.
In the UK, Deputy Superintendent at Well Pharmacy, Wendy Lee, is urging Brits to get protected before winter sets in.
She said: “The crisis in New Zealand should be a wake-up call to us all – particularly parents of young children, the old and vulnerable. “Flu can come on very quickly, so now is the time to think about protection rather than waiting until cases are already rising.
“Don’t be fooled into thinking that the winter is going to be any less harsh because of the enduring heatwaves during this long summer.”
Concerns over the coming UK flu season follows fears about an early-than-expected rise in infections from the second week of October 2025. While cases peaked in December, the disease was still linked to 3,798 deaths.
Health New Zealand says all sequenced influenza A/H3N2 samples this year have belonged to subclade K – the same strain that had a huge impact on last year’s northern-hemisphere winter.
In the UK, Deputy Superintendent at Well Pharmacy, Wendy Lee, is urging Brits to get protected before winter sets in.(Image: PA)
The worry over the K strain is not just that it causes severe illness but that it has evolved away from the H3N2 viruses, spreading more rapidly because fewer people are immune.
In New Zealand, this contributed to a sharp rise in flu cases, heaping “significant” pressure on the health care providers.
In Auckland , 177 people were admitted to four hospitals with severe acute respiratory illness between August 9 and 16 – up from 125 the previous week. The weekly hospitalisation rate was reported as the highest in the region since 2015.
Children under five have been the worst hit, with more ending up in hospital than any other age group.
Britain’s biggest independent pharmacy chain, Well Pharmacy, is urging Brits to book their winter flu vaccination ahead of the coming season.
The warning comes as the NHS begins its 2026/27 winter vaccination programme.
Children and pregnant women became eligible for vaccination from September 1, with vaccinations for most other eligible groups beginning from October 1.
Well Pharmacy’s private flu vaccination service is available now, while its free NHS flu vaccination service begins from October 1, subject to eligibility and availability. The current private flu vaccination price listed by Well Pharmacy is £19.49.[10]
Information on eligibility, tips on managing symptoms and staying healthy is available on the Well Pharmacy flu vaccination page.
The vaccination can also be given alongside other vaccinations where appropriate, helping people prepare for the winter months. Wendy Lee said: “The health emergency in New Zealand is an important reminder of how quickly influenza can take hold, and make people extremely ill.
“Getting vaccinated remains one of the best ways for eligible people to reduce their risk of serious illness from flu and help protect those around them.”
