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Hundreds of social media users are reporting a mysterious and 'relentless' illness spreading across the UK which they've been suffering from for 'weeks'.

In a thread posted on Reddit site r/AskBrits, hundreds of users corroborated the existence of an unidentified lurgy that is clinging on to their immune system.

Posting in r/AskBrits, one person asked this week: "Anyone got this horrible illness. Its been nearly a week now me and my kids have been ill.

"For me started [with] sneezing, headaches, dark eyes, pressure in my face, extreme fatigue, now day six [and I have a] heavy chest, coughing up gross stuff, blowing my nose constantly, still super tired and drained.

"Kids now have chesty coughs and [are] so tired by the end of the day. it just seems relentless! Anyone else have it?!?!"

Another person replied: "My wife's been suffering with this for nearly four weeks now. Got a reprieve about 10 days in, but came back with a vengeance."

Another user, u/rictay44, said: "A lot of people around me have had it. Don't know what it is, some kind of flu? Some strain of Covid? Nobody seems to know."

And u/hobnob-harry42 said: "People can test to see if it's Covid. We're still in the middle of a pandemic, it's just the government and society have decided ignoring it and ignoring the increased likelihood people are going to get long Covid, worse effects from other illnesses, etc. is easier than taking relatively easy ways to mitigate the risks (such as free boosters, ensuring clean air in indoor spaces, good ventilation, wearing masks when appropriate, decent sick pay to stop people having to go into work and spread it about). It is criminal how the government has let this rip and left it to individuals to try and make the best of bad situation."

The latest figures from the UK Health and Security Agency suggest norovirus activity is high, but known cases of flu and RSV are falling.

In its last report, published on Thursday, February 19, it said: "Norovirus cases remain high in England but have now stabilised while cases of respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV continue to fall, as UK Health Security Agency's latest weekly winter surveillance report shows. Although norovirus cases have stabilised, outbreaks in hospitals remain high and people are reminded of the steps they can take to protect those more vulnerable.

"To help prevent the spread in cases of both respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses, it's important that people continue to take simple steps to protect themselves, including washing hands regularly with warm soapy water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces. People are reminded that alcohol gels do not kill norovirus.

"To help stop the spread of respiratory viruses, indoor spaces should be well ventilated and if you have symptoms, you should stay home where possible, avoiding visiting those more vulnerable including older people, pregnant women and young babies. If you need to go out with symptoms, consider wearing a face mask."