KILLER FLU EPIDEMIC Only THREE UK areas remain ‘Aussie flu’ free as hospitals ban visitors and churches stop handshakes to curb crisis

ONLY three areas of the UK remain free from deadly Aussie flu after more cases were reported overnight - adding to the existing 1,500.

In the last 24 hours the Brecon Beacons and Telford. which yesterday had no reported cases, were revealed to have at least one each.

Figures from the NHS show that over 1,500 people across the country have been struck down with the illness.

In a bid to contain the outbreak churches in Northern Ireland, one of the worst-affected areas, have banned handshakes.

A statement from the office of Bishop Noel Treanor said: "The customary sign of peace handshake exchanged during mass is suspended until the risk of infection is significantly reduced.

"Other provisions will be made for those who suffer from a coeliac condition, such as separate chalices."

The new cases in the Brecon Beacons and Telford were revealed on the Flusurvey website.

It relies on members of the public to report when they are suffering flu-like symptoms so the true figure could be much higher.

Dorchester, Dartford, and the City of London are now the only places where no flu cases have arisen, according to the website.

A surge in infections has seen UK cases of the dangerous new H3N2 strain rocket as the NHS endures one of the worst flu seasons in 50 years.

Northern Ireland, Essex, Teesside and Devon appear to be among the worst affected areas, according to Flusurvey.

In the last two days Perthshire, Inverness, Preston, Glasgow and Midlothian have all reported cases - having previously remained untouched.

Data from Public Health England reveals that at least 1,649 people have been struck down by the potentially deadly strain in England and Wales - in just one week over the Christmas period.

A further 112 people were admitted to non-emergency hospital wards, up from just five the week before.

And the lethal virus has now claimed its first victims in Ireland, sparking fears of fatalities elsewhere.

Cork University Hospital in the south of the country has banned all visitors in an attempt to tackle the spreading infection.

In the past week 17 people in England and Wales were admitted to intensive care, a government report revealed.

Although an average of 8,000 people die every year because of flu in England and Wales, experts warned last autumn that this number could be a lot higher if the Aussie flu struck.

Now the NHS is enduring one of its worst flu seasons in 50 years with thousands of operations cancelled as hospitals struggle to cope with an increase in patients.

On Friday a Brit mum spoke out about her horrific experience with the illness - which she originally thought was a prosecco induced hangover - until it plagued her for five weeks.

Natalie Shand, 39, said she was left aching all over her body after being struck down by the Aussie flu.

She told the Mirror: "I was bedbound for six days in total. Then I was OK for two weeks and then by December 23 it knocked me off my feet again for hours at a time. I had it for five weeks."