THE number of people in Suffolk complaining to their GPs about flu-like symptoms trebled in just a fortnight.
Fresh data from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show there were 87 cases per 100,000 in the week to January 2, compared with 27.7 two weeks earlier.
The situation in Suffolk is far worse than in north-east Essex (49.8 cases per 100,000), east of England (68.2) and England (73.0).
The HPA released further figures showing the flu death toll since October had jumped by 11 to 50, the majority of whom were not immunised.
It comes as the family of Sue Applin - who died from swine flu in West Suffolk Hospital on Tuesday - urged those in at-risk groups to get the vaccine.
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