Chief medical officer warns that Britain's toddlers are 'the super-spreaders' of flu

The chief medical officer urged parents of toddlers to have them vaccinated against flu to protect them as well as their more frail grandparents.

17:40 28 November 2014

A new guidance issued by the chief medical officer has dubbed children who are between two and four years old as “super-spreaders” of flu.

The chief medical officer urged parents to get their children vaccinated not just for their protection but also to protect grandparents who could die from underlying conditions if infected.

Toddlers can easily spread the influenza virus because they are less likely to wash their hands or cover their faces when they cough or sneeze.

“Flu can be really nasty for toddlers, leading to time off nursery, which has a big impact on mums and dads and sometimes even a stay in hospital,” said Professor Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer. “They also spread the virus easily and often pass flu to grandparents and other relatives who become very ill, fast.”

“Particularly unpleasant for children, flu can cause a fever, sore throat, aching muscles, extreme tiredness and even complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia,” she warned.