Dr Muhammad Navaid Ahmed from Caddens Medical Centre said flu season is common but there are factors which make this year more intense.
“Each year the influenza virus can change with the weather conditions but this year we have many people who have had COVID, which affects their immune system, so immunity in the community is lower than normal,” he said.
“People spend more time together inside during winter and have heating on which can dry the lining of the nose up which can make you more susceptible to the cold and flu,” he said.
Dr Ahmed said there should be relief as the weather warms up, with the peak of the flu season just around the corner.