Overview
- UKHSA says high levels of influenza, RSV, COVID-19 and norovirus are circulating this season, complicating symptom recognition.
- While COVID-19 often looks like a common cold now, a new or altered sense of taste or smell remains a distinguishing sign.
- Flu typically brings a runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes with fever or body aches, whereas RSV is marked by cough, wheeze, breathlessness, tiredness and fever.
- Norovirus usually causes nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting, with possible fever, headache and aching limbs.
- The NHS advises staying home and limiting contact if symptomatic, and notes winter COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for people 75+, those 6 months to 74 with weakened immunity, and older-adult care-home residents; free flu shots cover people 65+, certain long-term conditions, pregnancy, care-home residents, primary carers, household contacts of the immunosuppressed and eligible health and social care staff via employers.